Supreme Court slams Election Freebies: The Supreme Court on Wednesday made a strong comment on the freebies given during elections. The court said, ‘People do not want to work because you are giving them free ration. You are giving them money without doing anything.’ The court asked the Centre that instead of connecting these people to the mainstream of society, are you not creating a tribe of parasites by implementing free schemes?
A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine Jorde Masih was hearing a petition for providing shelter to homeless people in urban areas. Now this petition will be heard again after 6 weeks.
The bench told the Centre;-We understand and appreciate your problem but wouldn’t it be better if you make such people a part of the mainstream and make them a part of the country’s development.
Questions and answers from the center of the court
Question- The bench asked the Centre how much time it would take to complete the urban poverty eradication mission. He told the Attorney General that you should ask the Centre for an answer and tell us.
Centre’s response: Attorney General R Venkataramani said that the Centre will soon complete this mission which includes providing housing for the urban homeless and many other issues.
Supreme Court seeks information on poverty alleviation mission
The Supreme Court has sought detailed information from the Central Government regarding the Urban Poverty Eradication Mission and the schemes for providing shelter to urban homeless people. The court told the Attorney General that the government should ensure whether the figures given reflect the real situation or not.
The Supreme Court said that the Government of India is in the process of finalising the Urban Poverty Eradication Mission, which will address the problems of urban poor and homeless people.
The court has also asked the Attorney General to examine how much time it will take to implement this scheme and what aspects will be included under it. Apart from this, the Supreme Court has asked the Center to clarify whether the National Urban Livelihood Mission will continue until the new scheme is implemented.
The Supreme Court has already commented on the distribution of free ration
This is not the first time that the court has made a strong comment on freebies. Earlier, on 9 December 2024, the Supreme Court had made a strong comment on the distribution of free ration by the Central Government. The court had said – how long will such free ration be distributed.
Why is the government not creating employment opportunities? The court was then hearing a case related to giving free ration cards to unskilled laborers. During this, the Center had told the court that under the National Food Security Act 2013, 81 crore people are being given free or subsidized ration.
Supreme Court has already sent notice to Centre and EC on freebies
On October 15, 2024, the Supreme Court had sent a notice to the Center and EC on freebies. A petition has demanded that the promise of free schemes before the elections should be declared a bribe. Also, the Election Commission should immediately ban such schemes.
2 main petitions in Supreme Court on Freebies
October 2024: Petitioner Shashank J Sridhar said – Freebies should be considered as bribes Petitioner Shashank J Sridhar’s lawyer Balaji Srinivasan raised the matter before CJI DY Chandrachud’s bench on Monday (October 14). He said that political parties promising free schemes during assembly or general elections should be considered as bribe or inducement for votes under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
January 2022: BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay filed a PIL BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay had approached the Supreme Court with a PIL against freebies. In his petition, Upadhyay appealed to ban the promises of freebies or free gifts to voters by political parties during elections. It has been demanded that the Election Commission should cancel the recognition of such parties.
The Election Commission had said that you should decide the definition of free schemes
During the hearing in the Supreme Court on August 11, the Election Commission had said that it is not in the power of the Election Commission to regulate the policy adopted by the parties on freebies.
Promising freebies before elections or giving them after elections is a policy decision of political parties. Taking any action without making rules in this regard would be a misuse of the powers of the Election Commission. The court should decide what are free schemes and what are not. After this we will implement it.
India’s freebie schemes date back over 70 years
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1954-1963 | Chief Minister Kamaraj of Madras State started free education and mid-day meal schemes for school children. |
| 1967 | DMK founder C.N. Annadurai introduced a scheme to provide 4.5 kg of rice for ₹1 in Tamil Nadu elections. |
| 1982 | The Tamil Nadu government launched a scheme for free school uniforms and mid-day meals. |
| 1980s | Andhra Pradesh CM N.T. Rama Rao introduced a scheme to provide rice at ₹2 per kg. |
| 1990s | AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa promised free sarees, mixers, grinders, televisions, and sewing machines in Tamil Nadu elections. |
| 1990s | Akali Dal government in Punjab started free electricity for farmers. |
| 2006 | DMK promised free color televisions to voters in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. |
| 2015 | Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won power in Delhi by promising free electricity and water. |
| 2022 | AAP came to power in Punjab, offering 300 units of free electricity to every household. |
| April 1, 2022 | Congress government in Himachal Pradesh implemented a scheme for free electricity and water. |
| Gujarat Elections | BJP promised 50 lakh free gas connections to women in Gujarat elections. |
| AAP’s Gujarat Elections Promise | AAP promised 300 units of free electricity and ₹1,000 per month for women. |
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