SC to hear demonetisation petitions on December 2

Apex court to also look into steps to reduce inconvenience being faced by the public

The Supreme Court on Friday set December 2 as the date for hearing of all petitions related to demonetisation, including the transfer petition filed by the Government of India, news agency ANI reported. 

According to CNN News18, the apex court is also likely to examine whether the Reserve Bank of India notification on demonetisation was passed in accordance with the law or not. Further, the court would also look into steps to reduce the inconvenience being faced by the common people due to the note ban. 

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, according to the news agency, on Friday told the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur that he had placed the affidavit on record in connection with the demonetisation issue.

 

ANI also reported that Congress leader Kapil Sibal appeared for one of the petitioners against the Centre's move and told the bench that people were starving in the streets as there was no cash at all. One of the petitioners, lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma told the court that only the public was suffering due to the move, while nothing had changed for political leaders. 

According to earlier reports, the apex court was set to hear on Friday several pleas related to the demonetisation of high-value currency notes and the difficulties faced by people dealing with it. The Supreme Court on Wednesday had turned down the central government's plea of staying all petitions challenging its November 8 decision. That was the third time that apex court has refused to stay proceedings in the matter. 

On Thursday, the Centre had submitted an affidavit on the demonetisation issue in the Supreme Court, saying that it is an attempt to unearth black money stashed over the last seven decades.

Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi had said that the Centre had filed a reply in the Supreme Court in compliance with the top court's earlier order on the issue.

"We have filed the report starting from the initiation of SIT (special investigation team) and all other issues which could be the affect of demonetisation process," Rohtagi told ANI.

The Centre in its affidavit told the apex court that demonetisation is a step to reduce ratio of cash transactions, adding that the objective is to unearth illegal parallel economy.

"Earlier, we constituted SIT to curb black money, amended Benami Act. The people might have to face some inconveniences. Re-calibration of ATMs is in full swing. Crores of fake currency notes have became useless. Funding of terror groups has been stopped," said the affidavit.

Attorney General Rohatgi had earlier on Monday filed a transfer petition before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on all pending pleas against demonetisation. Further, on Wednesday, he had told the apex court that there were around 15 petitions pending before various high courts raising issues related to demonetisation. However, some among them were irrelevant such as those that delve into the colour of new notes, he had added. 

 

While some courts have dismissed petitions already, others like the Delhi high court are awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court. 

However, the court had observed on Wednesday that if people get any immediate relief from the high courts, it should not be stopped. The apex court was in favour of letting the high courts decide on petitions filed with them until a decision is taken with regard to the government's plea of transferring cases.