Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 17: The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the petition challenging the practice of promising freebies during election campaigns on Wednesday and requested that all parties submit their suggestions on freebies in writing by August 20.
The apex court asked whether the supply of universal healthcare, access to clean water, and access to consumer electronics by dominant political parties can be considered as freebies or whether such provisions are in fact the rights of citizens.
“One of the suggestions is that State political parties cannot be prevented from making promises to the electorate. Now it has to be defined what is freebie. Can universal healthcare, access to drinking water, access to consumer electronics be treated as freebie,” the CJI asked.
According to a bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana, the concern is about spending public money in the right way.
The apex court was hearing Ashwini Upadhyay’s petition, which condemns the practice of political parties promising freebies before elections and asks the Electoral Commission to use its power to freeze their election symbols and remove their registration. The apex court posted the case for further consideration on August 22.
Until now, a number of political parties including AAP have opposed the plea.
