Supreme Court to hear pleas on demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and 500 notes today

The pleas seek quashing of the government's demonetisation move on the grounds that it infringed citizens' right to life and trade among others.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear a batch of PILs seeking quashing of the government's decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes.

The demonetisation move announced by the Narendra Modi government on November 8 night has left people slogging in long queues outside banks and ATMs.

A bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice DY Chandrachud has listed for hearing as many as four pleas against the November 8 decision.

The pleas seek quashing of the government's decision on the grounds that it infringed citizens' right to life and trade among others.

Out of the four, two PILs have been filed by Delhi-based lawyers Vivek Narayan Sharma and Sangam Lal Pandey respectively. Two other pleas have been filed by individuals, S Muthukumar and Adil Alvi, on the demonetisation issue.

The apex court, on November 10, had agreed to hear the pleas on Tuesday.

The petitioners have alleged that the sudden decision has created chaos and harassment to public at large and the notification of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance be either quashed or deferred for some time.

The Centre has also filed a caveat in the registry saying it should be heard if the bench agrees to hear and pass orders on any such plea.

Sharma, in his plea, has termed the notification of DEA as "dictatorial", claiming that it did not grant reasonable time to citizens for exchanging the specified bank notes to legitimate notes to avoid "large-scale mayhem, life-threatening difficulties".

The plea has sought either quashing of the notification or a direction to the Centre for grant of "reasonable time frame" to citizens to exchange the demonetised currency notes for avoiding difficulties being faced by the people.

On November 08, the Prime Minister, in a televised address to the nation, had declared that high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will no longer be legal tender from the midnight. He had said the government has declared a "decisive war" against black money and corruption.

(With PTI inputs)