New Delhi: “What kind of culture are we developing in India,” the Supreme Court remarked on Thursday, while slamming the large-scale distribution of freebies.
The Court, on its oral observations, said it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country’s economic development.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi, made the remarks while hearing a writ petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Company Ltd (TNPDCL), challenging Rule 23 of the Electricity Amendment Rules 2024.
It deprecated the trend of various state governments announcing ‘freebies’ just ahead of the elections, as reported by timesnow.in.
The Court took note of TNPDCL’s plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of the financial status of consumers, and said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
However, economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, and electricity to all, the bench observed.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue-deficient states, and yet they are offering such freebies,” the bench observed.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
Why did the Tamil Nadu power utility suddenly decide to loosen its purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified, the Court wanted to know.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
States, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs – pay salaries and distribute such largesse, the bench observed.
The Court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
