SC asks Centre to consider giving more time to change old notes

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider, within two weeks, the option of granting more time to people with a legitimate reason for not being able to deposit scrapped currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000.

A bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Central government, to take instructions on the issue and inform the court.

Ranjit Kumar sought time to get instructions for granting an opportunity to persons to deposit their money on a case-by-case basis.

The bench said there are people who could not deposit their old currency note during the December 30 deadline - like those in prison.

"We want to know as to why you chose to bar such persons," it asked.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions, including a woman who said she had just delivered a baby and another who said she was dealing with a death in her family.

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The pleas sought direction to authorities to allow them to deposit demonetised notes.

On November 8, 2016, the Central government had announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would no longer be legal tender from November 9.

The government had assured the people that demonetised currency notes could be exchanged at banks, post offices and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) branches till December 30, 2016. If people were unable to deposit them by that day, they could do so till March 31, 2017 at RBI branches after complying with certain formalities.