PIL seeks HC direction to Centre over demonetisation

A public interest litigation was today filed in the Bombay High Court, seeking direction to the Union government to take steps for easing inconvenience caused to public due to the recent demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
The PIL, filed by one Akhil Anil Chitre, has sought certain steps and measures to be undertaken by central and state governments to ensure smooth transition of the recent scheme.
The petition says that while the move was indeed salutary as it has been introduced to bring to light black money hoarders, its dynamics has resulted in serious cash and income crunch for the weaker sections of the society.

The petition further claims that while the government has said that the old currency notes would be accepted in government institutions for a few days, it has not brought any respite as both the public and the institutions do not have any change.
"Despite bank officials doing their best to re-infuse high denomination notes into the economy, a person withdrawing any amount from the bank is generally given a Rs 2,000 note, which again cannot be readily used for lack of change," the petition said.
"The respondents may provide for separate counters at banks and post offices, which would strictly dispense Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, and Rs 100 notes to anyone, who wishes to exchange only a single note of Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 in a day," the petition said.

"Smaller denomination notes and coins must be made available to all government institutions on priority, so as to facilitate access to those by weaker sections of the society," the PIL states.
The petition may come up for hearing this week.