Apprehending “riots,” the Supreme Court on Friday refused the government’s plea to stay cases filed against inconveniences caused by demonetisation in High Courts and lower courts across the country, saying, “How can we shut our doors to people when there is an issue of such magnitude.”
Noting that people have started becoming “frantic” for money, braving queues for hours, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur observed that the very fact that cases are being filed in courts all over is a signal that the problem is “serious and of magnitude.”
“They are going to the courts for relief. We cannot shut our doors to the people,” Chief Justice Thakur said, refusing the government’s plea.
The Bench, however, said the government could file transfer petitions to shift all the cases filed in other courts to Delhi.
“This is very serious. This will require great consideration. People have become frantic, people are affected… There may be riots,” the Bench, also comprising Justice Anil R. Dave, told Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi. “That is completely wrong. People are patiently standing in lines,” Mr. Rohatgi protested.
“There is suffering. There is difficulty and you cannot dispute that,” Chief Justice Thakur observed.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted that 47 people had died post November 8, as an after effect of the demonetisation.
“Would we be issuing notifications by the day, by the hour, if we were not concerned about the people’s problems? The length of the lines is reducing by the day,” Mr. Rohatgi claimed.
