The Supreme Court on Friday started hearing some petitions and public interest litigation (PILs) questioning the demonetization policy of the Central government, which came into effect from November 8.

Arguing for the Centre, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that "the government had taken all the necessary steps to ease inconveniences of the general public."

The Supreme Court asked the Centre, "When you made the policy on demonetization, was it confidential?" Chief Justice of India TS Thakur also asked the Centre as to why the order of granting limit of Rs 24,000 per day to a person had not been complied with. While responding to the SC, the Centre asked it not to interfere with demonetization as it was a monetary policy. Demonetization is a monetary policy, a court shouldn't interfere."

The Supreme Court also outlined nine questions for the adjudication to choose whether demonetization was undemocratic or not.

The apex court will start the hearing on the demonetization matter again on December 14. The hearing was adjourned on Monday and moved to Friday as CJI TS Thakur was on leave.

Several petitions were filed, comprising one by Vivek Narayan Sharma, against the policy that has created huge changes across the nation. The petitioners have asked the government's rationale and modus operandi behind the implementation of the policy which has reportedly created nuisance to the general public.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI