Supreme Court On ‘Freebies’ Before Elections: ‘Aren’t We Creating Class Of Parasites’?

New Delhi: Be it Assembly or Lok Sabha polls, all major political parties promise ‘freebies’ in the run-up to elections to woo voters.

Worried by this growing trend, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sent out a strong message to all political parties, saying that such schemes often discourage people from working and participating in the development of the nation as they are getting what they need for basic sustenance for free.

Disapproving the practice of announcing freebies prior to elections, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih said people are not willing to work as they get free ration and money. The top court made the observations while hearing a case related to night shelters.

“Unfortunately, because of these freebies the people are not willing to work. They are getting free rations. They are getting amount without doing any work,” Justice Gavai said.

“We quite appreciate your concern for them but would it not be better to make them a part of the mainstream of society and permit them to contribute to the development of the nation,” the bench said.

“Aren’t we creating a class of parasites,” the bench asked.

Justice Gavai had made similar observations earlier in a separate case, raising concern over the growing trend of state governments offering election freebies, while neglecting the pressing issue of unpaid judges’ salaries and pensions.

While hearing a plea from the All India Judges Association, which pointed out the growing concern over the insufficient salaries and inadequate retirement benefits provided to the country’s judiciary, the bench highlighted the contradictions between the allocation of funds for election promises and the financial neglect faced by the judicial system.

“When it comes to paying judges, states often cite financial constraints. However, during elections, we see announcements of freebies like the ‘Ladki Bahin’ initiative and similar financial promises made by political parties in Delhi, where assurances of paying Rs 2,100 or Rs 2,500 are made to win elections,” the bench said.

Ladki Bahin scheme was launched by BJP-led Mahayuti coalition.

Ahead of the recent Delhi Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) introduced the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana’. Not to be left behind, BJP – which used to be against freebies at one time – and Congress jumped on the bandwagon and made similar announcements.