‘Ensure no public harassment over demonetisation’

A court here has directed government agencies to ensure that even a person on the lowest rung of society does not face harassment due to demonetisation.

“It becomes the duty of the implementation agencies to ensure that even the smallest person of this country is not inconvenienced or harassed, “ Additional District Judge Kamini Lau said.

The order came on Tuesday after a senior citizen — who had been ordered by the court to pay a fine — said a State Bank of India (SBI) branch had refused to accept her old currency notes totalling Rs 5,000.

The woman had gone to deposit the money in the bank account of the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

“Whenever the banker is faced with a situation where the question in his view relates to right to life/survival vis-a-vis convenience, it is the former which takes precedence and he needs to exercise his discretion as such.”

The court wondered why the bank did not accept the money when municipal authorities were also accepting taxes and penalties in the old currency.

The court was hearing a property dispute case filed by the woman against her relative.

The court had imposed fine on her after she failed compliance with the legal process.

A large number of traders from across Delhi held a ‘katora’ march on Thursday in Karol Bagh market here to protest against demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

Holding ‘katoras’ (bowls) in their hands, the protestors shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi including “note nahi, PM badlo” (change PM, not notes) and “Modi tere raaj mein, katora aa gaya hath mein” (we are forced to beg in Modi’s rule). 

Ever since Prime Minister Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, people have been forced to stand in queues outside ATMs and banks to withdraw their own money, they said.

Apart from traders, many transporters also participated in the protest organised by Aam Aadmi Party’s trade wing.

The AAP has strongly opposed the Central government’s demonetisation move and demanded its rollback.