“Big government” has got a firm yet quiet rap on the knuckles. The Supreme Court indicated that the finance ministry ought to spare a thought for the difficulties endured by common folk when it directed that a window be created for persons who had genuine reasons for not exchanging the old, demonetised Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 currency notes within the narrow timeframe that North Block had ordained.

That a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India was in no mood to entertain verbose and complicated reasoning from the government’s counsel was clear when it cautioned that it would pass an instant order quashing the relevant notification, and advised the finance ministry to present a workable formula, at which the Solicitor General sought, and was granted, two weeks to file a response.

The court obviously appreciated the point made by the petitioners that the ministry had complicated the situation by issuing a series of orders, then modifying them even before the implications had trickled down to the various branches of the banks that serviced the common folk.

The court said it was not asking for any blanket relaxation, but some consideration had to be extended to people with genuine difficulties. “What if someone is terminally ill and could not deposit the money. If someone has a genuine reason you cannot deny him the opportunity to deposit the money.

You cannot be allowed to deprive a person of his money.” Painting pictures of various scenarios the bench declared, “You cannot take someone’s property. If it’s my money and I can establish that, then you cannot deprive me of my property”. Welcome though that message is from their Lordships, many will feel it has come much too late. For over the last eight months or so the common citizens have been put to various difficulties because the burra sahibs in authority ~ who have underlings to do their dirty work ~ refused to understand the impact demonetisation was having on the lives of ordinary citizens.

Overnight did the government taint the very currency it had earlier issued, and a bogey was raised that every cash transaction was dubious.

Small traders, daily-wage earners, migrant labourers, all had their lives disrupted when high officials said they should opt for “plastic”, e-wallets and what have you. Another admission that the difficulties continue to persist is the move to introduce Rs 200 notes to ease the cash-crunch.

And till today the government has been unable to determine how much “black money” re-entered the system.

Many a difficulty would have been averted had “Big government” mustered the moral courage to admit, and rectify shortcomings. Alas, there are indications of a similar mindset at work in the implementation of GST. Positive moves can be undercut by false prestige.