Freebie Promises: All Eyes On Supreme Court Verdict

Pre-electoral freebie promises are a part and parcel of almost all the prominent political parties in India. But there could be a checkmate for these irrational freebie promises as the Supreme Court of India has listed the hearing on a PIL that seeks ban on these freebies on March 21.

The PIL was originally filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, who sought the Supreme Court’s intervention in political parties promising irrational freebies to attract voters. The argument is that parties are promising freebies at will at the expense of the state exchequer and trying to lure voters through border-line illegal promises.

The timing of this PIL is such that it is coming right ahead of the Lok Sabha elections which are starting in two months.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra have listed the case for hearing today. If the PIL is passed by the court, the parties that promise irrational freebies could have their electoral symbols frozen and election symbols canceled. The primary action will be the court ordering the EC to pass a referendum to political parties to refrian from making such pre-poll freebies promise.

With the election approaching quickly, all eyes are on the Supreme Court’s order on the case. We could get clarity of some sort after the hearing tomorrow.