Delhi High Court set to hear pleas against demonetization on December 15

Delhi High Court said on Thursday that it would listen on December 15 pleas challenging the central government's demonetization move. 

The announcement was made after the HC was informed that Supreme Court is scheduled to hear its pending petitions on Friday.

As the hearing commenced, a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked the petitioners, "What has happened in the Supreme Court?"

The counsel appearing for the RBI told the bench that the Supreme Court would hear the pleas challenging the November 8 decision to demonetize high-value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on Friday alongwith the petition filed by the government seeking transfer of matters pending before various high courts to either the apex court or one of the high courts.

To this, the bench said, "Then we will take up these matters on next Thursday (December 15)".

The bench was hearing two separate pleas, one of which has sought discontinuation of the new Rs 2,000 currency note.

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The other petition has sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that all the ATMs are dispensing cash and people do not suffer.

One of the petitioners, Pooja Mahajan, who runs a designer showroom, has questioned the government allowing certain public utilities including hospitals and petrol pumps to use the old notes.

In her plea, she has also claimed that the government has taken a dual stand as on the one hand it was encouraging people to deposit old notes in bank accounts and on the other hand, it was threatening them of prosecution for depositing over Rs 2.5 lakh.

She has also urged the high court to quash various notifications with regard to demonetization which were issued on and after November 8, alleging that they are in contravention of the Constitution of India and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act.

Another petition, filed by Birender Sangwan, has sought direction to the government to ensure that all the ATMs are dispensing cash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 announced the demonetization of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. 

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