A police officer speaking with people as they queue outside a bank in Kolkata, yesterday.
The Supreme Court yesterday said it will hear on December 2 the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Centre's November 8 decision to demonetise high-denomination currency notes which resulted in public inconvenience. A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice D Y Chandrachud initially said it will first hold a hearing on the inconvenience faced by the public and the steps taken to redress the issue.
Seeking to know the ground reality, the court said hearing on the validity of the note ban could take place later.
"You tell us what is the situation on the ground and what needs to be done," the bench asked as senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, insisted for hearing on the validity of the Centre's decision also.
The apex court later agreed to hold the hearing on both aspects as Sibal urged for preliminary hearing either on Tuesday (November 29) or Thursday (December 1) on the validity of the demonetisation decision.
However, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the petitions presently before the apex court should be heard along with other pleas, which the Centre seeks to get transferred either to the apex court or the Delhi High Court.
"Have it yesterday (December 2), so that everybody can be heard. There can't be piecemeal hearing (of the matter)," Rohatgi told the bench.
The court has listed for December 2 the hearing on the Centre's plea for the transfer of all the cases filed before different high courts or subordinate courts to challenge the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes.
Referring to the government reply filed on Thursday, Rohatgi told the court that the Centre has placed everything on the affidavit.
