The Supreme Court is hearing today petitions filed in 2016 challenging demonetisation of Rs500 & Rs 1000 currency notes.A Constitution Bench will examine if the issue is merely academic now.The pleas challenge the Centre's decision of Nov 2016. The Constitution Bench comprises Justices S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna. The case is coming up before...
The Supreme Court is hearing today petitions filed in 2016 challenging demonetisation of Rs500 & Rs 1000 currency notes.
A Constitution Bench will examine if the issue is merely academic now.
The pleas challenge the Centre's decision of Nov 2016. The Constitution Bench comprises Justices S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna. The case is coming up before a CB after six years.
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Petitioner-in-person in lead petition appears remotely, seeks the Court's indulgence.
Justice Nazeer: Try to come to Court, Mr.
Sharma: Yes Milord.
The Court rises.
Justice Nazeer also explains, "First, we will address the main legal issue. Then we will take up all these individual issues."
Justice Nazeer, on a lighter note: It seems that the Attorney-General has to open a separate counter - "Demonetisation Counter".
Everyone laughs.
Justice Nazeer pronounces order: Issue notices on all the IAs and fresh petitions. Counsel for respondent UoI and RBI seek time to file their respective comprehensive affidavit. List it on November 9.
Chidambaram also reiterates that the three docs must be produced.
Justice Nazeer instructs the Union to submit an affidavit covering the aspect of these documents as well as the proposed reading down of S 26(2).
AG informs the Court that he is still "finding his footing". R Venkataramani was appointed as the Attorney-General in the last week of Sept. Promises to sit w Sr Adv Jaideep Gupta and "sort it out".
Chidambaram points out the absence of a comprehensive affidavit from the Union's side.
Justice Nazeer to Union: Someone should sit and sort these out on your side. This is a serious issue.
Chidambaram: The second last pt is proportionality, and the final issue is the power of this Court to issue declaratory reliefs, and mould the relief.
Chidambaram: The objective could not be achieved if you started printing Rs 500 notes again...someone w counterfeit notes can start passing it off again. It would only be achieved if Rs 300 notes started being circulated, for instance
Chidambaram gives the English translation.
Justice VR, laughing: The objective was to catch the rat and not the mountain.