SC declines urgent hearing appeal against Delhi HC order on exchange of Rs 2,000 notes

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to hear an urgent appeal against a Delhi High Court order dismissing a petition challenging the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to allow citizens to exchange Rs 2,000 banknotes, which are being phased out of circulation, without requiring a requisition slip or ID proof.

A vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and KV Viswanathan declined to hear the plea urgently, stating that the case does not require a hearing during the vacation. When asked about the urgent hearing, advocate Ashwini Upadhyay told the bench that the notification was clearly arbitrary and allowed criminals to exchange black money.

“Rs 50,000 crore has been exchanged in three days, this is happening first time in the world,” he said.

The bench, however, stated that the plea does not merit hearing during the vacation and that he may bring the matter before the Chief Justice of India when the Court reopens following its current summer recess.

“Sorry, we are not entertaining these petitions during the vacation,” it said. Please bring this up with the Chief Justice of India after your vacation.”

Upadhyay filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging the High Court’s decision to dismiss his plea on 29 May.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on May 19 that it will withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination from circulation as part of a “currency management exercise.” Citizens have until September 30 to exchange these notes for other denominations, according to the RBI.