While the BJP Government is wanting to stop the free schemes across the country, Chief Justice of India Ramana remarked that all political parties were on one side when it came to support for “freebies”.
The CJI made the statement while hearing public interest litigation by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking directions to the Election Commission to not allow political parties to promise “freebies” during poll campaigns.
Ramana said that the court’s main concern was that largesse in the form of “freebies” should not bleed the economy dry. On August 17, the Supreme Court said that it was becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between freebies and welfare schemes.
“The question is what constitutes right promises?” Ramana had asked. “Can we describe the promise of free education as a freebie? Can free drinking water, minimum essential units of power etc. be described as freebies? Can consumer products and free electronics be described as welfare?”
On August 3, the court suggested that an expert body, consisting of various stakeholders such as the government, the NITI Aayog, the Finance Commission, the Law Commission, the Reserve Bank of India, and members of the Opposition should be formed to give their suggestions on the matter.
