Demonetisation: SC refuses to stay proceeding, agrees to transfer cases to a single court

The Supreme Court on 23 November refused to stay hearings in cases filed in various courts across the country against the Centre's move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

The apex court, however, has agreed to transfer all pending cases that challenge demonetisation to a single court, reports the Indian Express.

The Supreme Court will further hear the matter on 2 December, 2016.

Earlier, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had submitted that all matters challenging the demonetisation programme be heard by the Supreme Court only.

Also Read: Supreme Court to hear Centre's plea to transfer demonetisation cases today

However, the bench had said, "People are affected. People are frantic. People have the right to approach the courts," noting that people were facing difficulties.

The bench had questioned the relief measures undertaken by the Centre and asked why it had squeezed the exchange limit to Rs 2,000.

The AG had then explained the situation by stating that after printing, the currency has to be moved to thousands of centres across the country and ATMs have to be re-calibrated.

He had also said that Rs 100 notes are in circulation and the ATMs needed to be re-calibrated to issue new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

The Centre had moved the Supreme Court on 17 November, seeking a stay on the proceedings before various high courts and other courts except the Supreme Court against demonetisation issue, saying otherwise it will create a lot of confusion.

The Supreme Court had on 15 November refused to stay the government's demonetisation notification, but asked it to spell out steps taken to minimise public inconvenience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation on 8 November, had announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will no longer be legal tender from midnight. He had said the government has declared a "decisive war" against black money and corruption.

--With PTI inputs