Ordinance to make possession of scrapped notes criminal offence

The ordinance, approved by the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also seeks to extinguish the liability of the government towards bearers of such notes. People can deposit old notes in banks up to December 30 and with the Reserve Bank of India up to March 31 next year.

Official sources said the ordinance -- called "The Specified Bank Notes Cessation of Liabilities Ordinance" will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee, currently in Hyderabad, for approval before notification.