HC to hear pleas on December 15

THE DELHI High Court on Thursday said it would hear the pleas challenging the Centre’s demonetisation move on December 15, after it was informed that the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear pending pleas on the issue on Friday.

The counsel appearing for the RBI told a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal that the Supreme Court on Friday would hear the pleas challenging the November 8 decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, and the plea filed by the government seeking transfer of matters pending before various high courts to either the apex court or one of the high courts.

To this, the bench said, “Then we will take up these matters next Thursday (December 15).”

Two separate PILS have been filed before the High Court, challenging aspects of demonetisation. One PIL, by Delhi-based designer Pooja Mahajan, has sought discontinuation of the new Rs 2,000 note. The other plea, by Birender Sangwan, has sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that all ATMS are dispensing cash.

Mahajan, in her plea, has questioned the government’s move to allow certain public utilities to use the old notes. She claimed that the government had taken a “dual stand” as it was encouraging people to deposit old notes in the bank and threatening them with prosecution for depositing over Rs. 2.5 lakh.

She has also urged the HC to quashvariousnotifications,alleging that they are in contravention of the Constitution and RBI Act.