UP Lawyer Approaches SC Against Scrapping of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 Notes

New Delhi: A lawyer from Uttar Pradesh has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, challenging the Centre’s move to scrap existing currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.

The PIL, filed by Sangam Lal Pandey, seeks to quash the move, terming it “arbitrary” and a “huge inconvenience” to the public. The petitioner will mention the matter for urgent listing on Thursday.

In a dramatic move on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government is scrapping with immediate effect the existing currency denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to combat black money, corruption and terror-financing.

“These notes will just be paper from tomorrow,” Prime Minister Modi said in a televised address to the nation.

The sudden decision led to chaos across India with 85% of the currency becoming worthless overnight.