No action against note ban petitioners

But immunity will cover only the amounts mentioned in their pleas, says Centre

The Centre on Friday informed the supreme court that those who had approached the court for deposit of their scrapped notes would not face any criminal action.

Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal gave an oral undertaking on behalf of the government.

The petitioners had moved the court for an extension of the December 3,2016 deadline to demonetized notes in their possession.

At a hearing before a Bench, led by Cheif Justice of India Dipak Mishra, Mr. Venugopal gave the assurance but said immunity from prosecution would extend only to the amounts they had specifically mentioned in their petitions before the Supreme Court. They could not claim protection for other amounts they might possess, he said.

The petitioners who include farmers from Maharastra. the hospitalized and overseas citizens urged the court to direct the government to extend the deadline.