A petition seeking relaxation of Rs 2.5 lakh withdrawal limit for marriages has been dismissed by the Delhi High Court. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal dismissed the writ petition and also termed the guidelines as “arbitrary”. Delhi High Court on November 28 reserved its judgement on the plea saying, government has given “relaxation” wherever necessary on the demonetisation issue. Earlier, the Centre opposed the plea saying the government has already given certain exemptions but stated that some conditions needed to be made so that no one misuses it.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain on behalf of the Central government told the bench, “We cannot have an unmeasured and uncanalised situation. We have given exemptions. For weddings, if we will not put conditions, anybody can get a marriage card printed and go to the bank to withdraw Rs 2.5 lakh.”
The petitioner Birender Sangwan, in his plea said the cap of Rs 2.5 lakh withdrawal for marriages should be relaxed as people need to make “customary donations” during wedding ceremonies. He added, “Liberty must be given to marriages so that one can pay as per the customs. How can somebody give such an undertaking?” He stressed on it that both parents of bride and groom be allowed to withdraw money from their accounts without any conditions.
Sangwan’s advocate also told the bench that some kind of liberty be given to the parents as per their requirements and thus Rs 2.5 lakh cap should be relaxed. The Supreme Court is also hearing many petitions against the demonetisation move. The Delhi High Court last week made it clear that it will not correct anything regarding the demonetisation policy as the SC is already seized of it.
