DEMONETISATION Valid Or Not? : Supreme Court Constitution Bench Hearing- LIVE UPDATES

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24 Nov 2022 10:45 AM IST

  • DEMONETISATION Valid Or Not? : Supreme Court Constitution Bench Hearing- LIVE UPDATES

    Supreme Court Constitution Bench to hear petitions challenging the #Demonetization of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 currency notes by Central Govt in 2016.On Oct 12, the Centre was directed to file a comprehensive affidavit & disclose relevant docs.Constitution Bench comprising S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna JJ decided to hear this case after holding that...

    Supreme Court Constitution Bench to hear petitions challenging the #Demonetization of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 currency notes by Central Govt in 2016.

    On Oct 12, the Centre was directed to file a comprehensive affidavit & disclose relevant docs.

    Constitution Bench comprising S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna JJ decided to hear this case after holding that the legal issue had not become "academic".

    Senior Adv and four-time Finance Minister P Chidambaram gave a brief overview of his arguments.

    "Where is the application of mind?" the senior counsel asked.

    On Nov 9, the Attorney-General, R. Venkataramani sought an extension for the filing of a comprehensive affidavit.

     "It is embarrassing that a Constitution Bench has to adjourn like this," Bench remarked.

    A week later, the Centre filed an affidavit saying 2016 demonetisation was "well-considered" and led to benefits.

    FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES OF TODAY'S HEARING HERE 

    Live Updates

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:32 AM IST

      Nazeer J: What was the lifespan of an ordinance under the Govt of India Act? What happened to the 1946 ordinance? Was it made into an Act?

      Chidambaram: I'll look into these.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:32 AM IST

      BVN J: Are you suggesting that a separate law or ordinance had been made in this regard, it would have been valid?

      Chidambaram: Yes, but if you do it by notification...That's a separate argument.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:28 AM IST

      Chidambaram: Let's take one demonination - Rs 500. This could have been issued in many series. Why did they add 'any series' in S 26(2)? It must have some meaning. This is why they made a special legislation to demonetise all series in '46.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:27 AM IST

      Chidambaram: They declared all notes of that denomination. Whether S 26 conferred that power is the question. The Parliament thought, and imo rightly, that the power was not conferred by the section. Hence, plenary legislation was passed.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:24 AM IST

      Chidambaram: One, this plenary legislation was notwithstanding anything in S 26. Two, it is not any series of high denomination banknotes, but all. Three, this was done by a separate legislation.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:24 AM IST

      Chidambaram takes the Court through the 1946 Act that prefaced the 1946 demonetisation.

      "It was not under the RBI Act, even though it was available. They relied on the plenary legislation under the Govt of India Act"

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:23 AM IST

      Chidambaram: Parliament had the same power in 1946, 1978 as it had in 2016. Yet, before the earlier episodes, an act was passed, unlike in 2016, when no act was passed.

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:19 AM IST

      Chidambaram contended that S 26(2) should be read down. The word ‘any’ in the section should not be interpreted to mean ‘all’.

      "Any series means any specified series and not all series."

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:19 AM IST

      Chidambaram points out that only high-denomination notes were demonetised in 1946 and 1978, which represented a very small proportion of the total currency in circulation, 11.5 % ('46) and 0.6% ('78).

      "This is why there was no hue and cry."

    • 24 Nov 2022 11:18 AM IST

      Chidambaram talks about why currency is demonetised - currency becoming worthless, hyperinflation.

      "Rs 10,000 was practically worthless. In 1968, even a 1000 note was a rare possession. If you had a 100 note, you were considered a rich man."

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