New Delhi ,July 26: The Supreme Court noted that the announcement of freebies by political parties needs to be controlled and asked the central government to get instructions in the matter till the next hearing on August 3.
The top court was hearing a plea seeking to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to not permit political parties to promise or distribute irrational freebies from public fund before elections and de-register political parties or seize election symbol of parties which do so.
The bench, headed by CJI NV Ramana, said announcement of freebies by parties needs to controlled and asked how could the Election Commission “throw its hands up” in this regard.
The EC had said in an affidavit that it has no power to regulate the freebies and that it is up to the voters to decide whether the freebies are financially viable.
“Whether such policies (freebies) are financially viable or its adverse effect on the economic health of the state is a question that has to be considered and decided by the voters of the state,” the affidavit read.
Petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay argued that there is a total debt of Rs 6.5 lakh crore and “India is on its way to becoming Sri Lanka”.
The Supreme Court then asked the Centre to find out from Finance Commission whether revenue allocation to states could be regulated by taking into account money spent on “unnecessary freebies announced by political parties to bribe electorate, which play havoc with economy”.
The court has sought a response from the Government of India by August.
