The Centre has directed all the State Governments and law enforcing agencies, including the Delhi Government, to ensure that law and order is maintained when the banks start issuing new currency notes and ATMs become functional from Thursday.
The Centre has also directed to keep a tab on any kind of rumour mongering and the circulation of posts in social media which have the potential to create any law and order situation in this regard.
According to an advisory issued by the Centre, all necessary steps may be taken to ensure no panic was created at bank branches as large gatherings are expected for exchange of money. Police should arrange security to hospitals, pharmacies to avoid inconvenience to the patients and their relatives," the advisory said.
"It is advised that all necessary steps may be taken and instructions issued to the field formations to take all precautionary measures to maintain law and order situation and ensure that no panic is created anywhere particularly at the bank's branches as there may be large number of gathering at the banks to exchange old `500 and `1,000 denominations notes when banks reopen on Thursday. Similar action needs to be taken at the ATMs also as people will flock to the ATMs to withdraw lower denomination notes when ATMs open," the advisory said.
It has also directed to ensure security arrangement at Government hospitals, pharmacies in order to avoid inconvenience to the patients and their relatives.
"Acceptance of the old high denominations bank notes at Government hospitals and pharmacies in these hospitals for the first 72 hours is allowed. However, there may be customer vendor disputes because of either vendors reluctance to accept the high denomination currency or some customers want to exchange say a `1,000 note for a small purchase of ` 50 or `100. In such cases counselling by police of the party which is being unreasonable will be necessary," it said.