Five-judge constitution bench to check legality of note ban: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed to form a five-judge constitution bench to check whether the Narendra Modi government's decision of demonetisation is legal or a violation of fundamental rights.

The bench will comprise five senior most judges of the apex court.

The three-judge SC Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur, was hearing petitions against the Centre's November 8 decision of scrapping the high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 which has led to a cash crunch in the country.

The petitions further claimed that the decision has forced the people to stand in the bank and ATM queues for long hours.

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The five-judge constitution bench will also hold debate on if the court can interfere in economic policy or not.

The court left it to the government to decide if the use of banned currency notes at select places like hospitals and petrol pumps will be extended or not.

From Friday, the old Rs 500 notes will not be accepted anywhere and can only be deposited in banks as the government has refused to extend the exemptions it had provided to ease the cash crunch.

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Speaking on behalf of a petitioner, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal appealed some order much be passed to extend the use of the banned notes.

The court stated that it depended on the government to review the withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 per week from banks.