Consider extending exemption to old currency at hospitals: HC

The Gujarat High Court today asked the Union government to consider extending the period of exemption for accepting old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes at government hospitals and pharmacies.
Hearing a PIL seeking extension of the exemption period from today for another month, a bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued notices to the Centre and the state government and adjourned the matter to November 16.
Petitioner Dharam Kambalia, principal of a Rajkot-based college, also demanded that this exemption be extended to private hospitals.
The high court observed that it would be better if the Centre took cognisance of the issue on its own and positively considered extending the exemption period, instead of the court passing a direction.

The petitioner contended that people were finding it difficult to exchange the old currency notes due to the heavy rush at the banks after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were withdrawn on November 8.