But the bench said: “Whether the exemption period should be extended or not must be best left to the judgment of the government of the day with a hope that the government will be responsive and sensitive to the problems encountered by the common man. Accordingly, we decline to issue any interim direction to the government in the matter of extending the period of exemption and leave it open to the government to take appropriate decision in that behalf, as may be advised.”
The apex court, which framed nine issues for adjudication by a five-judge Constitution Bench for authoritative pronouncement on the government’s demonetisation decision, also refrained from making any amendment to the directive to limit weekly withdrawal at Rs 24,000. It hoped that the government will “fulfill this commitment” to the extent possible keeping in mind the “hardships and sufferings” faced by the general public and also review this periodically.
While examining the plea for directions to ease inconvenience of the people on the contentions that banks were not allowing withdrawal of Rs 24,000 a week, the bench took note of the submissions of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the 50-day period of streamlining cash inflow has not been exhausted.
