The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the government’s plea to stay the petitions filed in courts all over the country against the Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The apex court said the sheer number of pleas indicated that the problem was a serious one. A bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Anil R Dave said “how can we shut our doors to people when there is a problem of such magnitude”.
“This is very serious. This is will require great consideration. People have become frantic, people are affected...There may be riots,” the bench observed. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was representing the Centre, contended, “That is completely wrong. People are patiently standing in lines.” He said the government was taking all necessary steps to handle the situation. “Queues are getting shorter,” he said.
The apex court bench said the Centre had told the court that it would increase the limit on the amount that can be exchanged, but instead had reduced it. To this, Rohatgi said, “Rs 100 notes are not available. Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes made up over 80% of the currency,” Rohatgi said, according to The Hindu.
The court asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file a petition requesting the transfer of all such cases to Delhi. The court will hear the case next on November 25, reported IANS.
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