Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 9: Venkataramani, the Attorney-General for India, requested more time on Wednesday to file a thorough affidavit in response to the numerous petitions contesting the 2016 high-value banknote demonetisation. Six years after a circular was passed on November 8, 2016, essentially invalidating 86% of India’s legal tender, the challenge is being examined by a Constitution Bench.
Justices S. Abdul Nazeer, B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, V. Ramasubramanian, and B.V. Nagarathna make up the five-judge bench. Justice Nagarathna voiced her displeasure with the request for an adjournment, saying
“Normally, a Constitution Bench never adjourns like this. We never rise like this once we have started. It is very embarrassing for this court.”
The bench ordered the Centre and the RBI to respond after Senior Advocate P. Chidambaram pointed out on October 12 that neither the Union of India nor the Reserve Bank of India, the brains behind this contentious move, had submitted a “comprehensive affidavit.”
On Wednesday, however, the Attorney-General formally apologised for the delay and asked the Bench for an additional week to complete the affidavit.
“We could not get the affidavit ready. We require a very short indulgence of about a week’s time. The affidavit will be useful for all of us to proceed in some structured way. Otherwise, the course of action may be unnavigated. I will present it by Wednesday or Thursday…I am deeply sorry,” he said.
After deliberations, the Bench decided to list the matter for hearing on November 24.
“We will fix it on the 24th. Although 25th is a miscellaneous day, we will continue hearing the matter on that day as well. It will not be a miscellaneous day for us,” Justice Nazeer said.
