Last day to deposit demonetised notes

Chaos and confusion prevailed outside the Reserve Bank of India building in Delhi on Wednesday. Many flocked to the building in the hope of getting their demonetised notes exchanged, and serpentine queues coiled around the building. Tension and confusion ran high as guards and officials turned away many either because they were not eligible for the extended deadline or not carrying necessary documents.The government extended the deadline to deposit old notes for domicile residents, who were out of the country between 8 November and 30 December 2016 to March 31. For Non Resident Indians (NRIs), this deadline has been extended to June 30. Even these two groups of citizens are not allowed to 'exchange' their notes, but can deposit it in their accounts.However, many who were not eligible to get their notes deposited reached the RBI building as early as 6am on Wednesday in the hope that they may get lucky. There is currently a PIL in the Supreme Court regarding the deadline for people to get their old notes exchanged. The apex court had even pulled up the Centre earlier this month for not allowing the general public to exchange their notes till March 31. Though it was said that in cases with 'genuine difficulties' people would be allowed, however, the court had criticised that this was up to the government's discretion.