Demonetisation: SC agrees to hear fresh pleas with others on Dec 2

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on Friday two fresh petitions along with other pending PILs challenging Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. While 14 cooperative banks of Kerala seek a nod to transact business like banks, a BJP leader, who is also a lawyer, has moved the apex court seeking demonetisation of currency notes higher than Rs 100 denomination.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur fixed the two pleas, which were mentioned for urgent listing on Tuesday, for hearing on December 2 when it will also hear a batch of petitions along with the Centre’s transfer plea on the issue.

The plea filed by the cooperative banks have sought the apex court’s nod to handle cash on par with state-run banks, claiming that the move did not allow the district cooperative banks to exchange old notes, which was discriminatory as they operated according to the RBI’s guidelines. The plea also contended that allowing the private banks to exchange old notes while restricting district cooperative banks from doing so, amounted to discriminatory practice.