How can the Indian government ban old notes without passing any bill/law?

Question

Before making any major decisions/policy/law for the public the Indian government should pass a bill. It's usually done through the voting by the Member of Parliaments in the Parliament. After getting the required number of votes the bill/law is passed.

The same thing had happened in 2000 & 2014 for the bifurcations of the states in India.

However, in November 2016, the Indian government without any bill (or anything similar) banned higher denomination notes and gave 50 days to the public to exchange them with the new currency.

How did the Indian government ban old notes without passing any bill/law?

Answer 1

Because The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 gives such power to the Indian government.

The sub-section (2) of section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 mentions:

(2) On recommendation of the Central Board the 3 [Central Government] may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare that, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, any series of bank notes of any denomination shall cease to be legal tender 4 [save at such office or agency of the Bank and to such extent as may be specified in the notification].

This was precisely cited in the gazette notification no. 2652 issued by the Government of India in which they announced the demonetisation:

S.O. 3407(E).─ Whereas, the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India (hereinafter referred to as the Board) has recommended that bank notes of denominations of the existing series of the value of five hundred rupees and one thousand rupees (hereinafter referred to as specified bank notes) shall be ceased to be legal tender;

...

...

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government hereby declares that the specified bank notes shall cease to be legal tender with effect from the 9th November, 2016 to the extent specified below, namely:

(emphasis mine)

But to legally terminate RBI’s liability on the banned currencies to prevent future litigation an ordinance has to be passed within certain period of months. As this¹ article explains:

..although a demonetisation can be done through a notification, a Presidential Ordinance or Parliamentary Act is necessary to:

1. Prohibit transfer or receipt of the banknotes that have ceased to be legal tender, so that these do not reflect anymore as a liability on the Issue Department of the Reserve Bank of India.
2. Restrict the RBI’s legal obligation to exchange the old notes with new notes.

(1) and (2) cannot be done through a notification. They need a residential Ordinance or Parliamentary Act. Otherwise, although the demonetisation would be legal, the RBI would continue to remain under a legal obligation to keep on exchanging the old notes with new ones.

Accordingly the Government of India had drafted an ordinance² whis was approved by the President of India on 30th Dec 2016.

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_{1 This is an excellent read about demonetisation, its history and legality. Covers lot of interesting stuff.}

_{2 Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016}

Answer 2

I am not familiar with the Indian law, but I think they used a "government ordinance". This article explains about the ordinances in general (my highlight):

Ordinance is a decree or law promulgated by a state or national government without the consent of the legislature. It includes examples such as collecting revenue through new taxes or harnessing resources during an emergency or threat. For an ordinance to be enforced effectively, it must not be in conflict with any higher law such as state or national law or constitutional provisions.

So, it becomes "active" immediately. However, the Parliament must approve it within six weeks.

Ordinances must be approved by Parliament within six weeks of reassembling or they shall cease to operate. They will also cease to operate in case resolutions disapproving the ordinance are passed by both the Houses.