Delhi HC adjourns plea against demonetisation

Issue is currently pending before the apex court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday adjourned a plea against the government's demonetisation drive, as the matter is currently pending before the apex court.

"We will defer the matter for December 8 and wait for the apex court's direction on the Centre's petition," said the bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice V K Rao, taking note of the Supreme Court matter seeking a stay of proceedings before the various high courts. Justifying the grant of stay, the Centre had earlier told the apex forum that parallel proceedings before the high courts, would lead to widespread confusion.

In a separate Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a businessman also moved the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking the withdrawal of limits on withdrawals of money deposited in banks before the November 8 demonetisation notification.

The PIL states that on account of the government's decision, normal banking transactions have ceased and people are unable to carry on their regular businesses, which in turn affect their right to livelihood. Previously, the government had capped the weekly withdrawal limit from banks at Rs 20,000, with a daily limit of Rs 10,000. Subsequently, the weekly limit has been increased to Rs 24,000 and the daily limit scrapped.

The bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Jayant Nath have listed the matter for hearing before an appropriate bench on November 23.