Supreme Court Seeks Response From Centre and Election Commission on Freebies Issue

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission (EC) on a fresh petition challenging the practice of political parties promising freebies during elections. The petition argues that unregulated promises of freebies place a heavy financial burden on the public exchequer and distort the democratic process.

Key Highlights:

1. Supreme Court’s Action:
   A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission. The court tagged this petition with similar pleas under consideration.
2. The Petition’s Argument:
   Filed by Bengaluru resident Shashank J Sreedhara and represented by advocate Srinivasan, the plea asserts that freebies offered by political parties before elections pose an unaccounted burden on public finances. It calls for steps to regulate these practices and ensure that pre-election promises are fulfilled.
3. Previous Pleas Against Freebies:
   The issue of freebies has previously been brought up by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, on behalf of lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who has petitioned for a complete ban on populist measures that sway voters and distort the democratic process. Upadhyay’s plea highlights that these promises violate constitutional principles and affect the purity of elections.
4. Call for Regulation:
   The petition urges the EC to add a provision in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968 to prevent political parties from offering irrational freebies. It also seeks a declaration from the court that offering private goods or services not intended for public purposes before elections is unconstitutional.

This case reflects rising concerns over the impact of electoral freebies on India’s democratic process, and the Supreme Court’s decision could potentially reshape the rules governing pre-election promises.