SC won’t interfere in note ban, says govt best judge

New Delhi: In a major relief to the government, the Supreme Court on Friday, in its interim order on demonetisation, refused to interfere with the Centre’s decision firmly underlining that “these are matters of fiscal policies”. The court further restrained all high courts from examining the issue, stayed proceedings there and transferred them to itself. Stressing that the government is the best judge, the court also refused to extend dates for exemption of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes for certain services.

The court also refrained from making any amendment to the directive to limit weekly withdrawal at Rs 24,000. The SC had framed nine issues for adjudication by a five-judge Constitution Bench for authoritative pronouncement on the demonetisation decision.  

It hoped that the government will “fulfil this commitment” to the extent possible keeping in mind the “hardships and sufferings” faced by the general public. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, which declined to extend the exemptions on the demonetised currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500, left it to the judgment of the government to review it hoping that it would be responsible and sensitive.

“Whether the use of demonetised currency notes would be extended or not, it is on the government of the day as it is the best judge,” the bench said.