The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to impose penalty and a jail term for people holding demonetized notes of Rs 5,00 and 1,000. Only specified category of people will be allowed to keep demonetized notes. However, anyone can possess 10 old notes of Rs 5,00 or Rs 1,000 denominations.
The Government has prescribed penalty equivalent to higher of Rs 50,000 or five times of the amount of demonetized notes.
The Union Cabinet has also approved an ordinance to amend RBI Act to extinguish the liability of the Government and Central bank on demonetized notes.
The deadline for deposit of demonetized notes in banks is December 30, 2016. Thus, the ordinance should be cleared by the President before December 30, 2016.