The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on the issue of freebies today. In fact, there has been an uproar in India for the last few days regarding freebies or free schemes. The Center is appealing to the states to rein in freebies. At the same time, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, Tamil Nadu’s DNK, and Andhra’s YSR Congress parties are challenging the Center in the Supreme Court on the freebies issue.

Bhaskar will know in the explainer what has happened in this matter so far. What are freebies and how is it affecting the economy?

BJP leader filed public interest litigation in January 2022

In January 2022, BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay reached the Supreme Court with a PIL against freebies. In his petition, Upadhyay had appealed to voters of political parties to put a stop to promises of freebies or freebies during elections. It has demanded that the Election Commission should cancel the recognition of such parties.

The central government, agreeing with Ashwini, appealed to the Supreme Court to fix the definition of freebies. The Center said that if the distribution of freebies continues, it will lead the country to a “future economic disaster”.

What happened in the Supreme Court so far?

The freebies case is being heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Hima Kohli. Let us know step by step what has happened so far in the hearing of this case…

August 03, 2022: Supreme Court says a committee should be set up to decide on the freebies issue. This includes Central, State Governments, NITI Aayog, Finance Commission, Election Commission, RBI, CAG, and political parties.

August 11, 2022: Supreme Court said, ‘There is a need to feed the poor, but there is a need to balance the welfare of the people, as the economy is losing money due to freebies’. We agree that there is a difference between freebies and welfare.

August 17, 2022: Court said, ‘Some people say that political parties cannot be stopped from making promises to voters…Now it has to be decided what freebies are. Can healthcare for all, access to drinking water… schemes like MGNREGA, which make life better, be considered freebies?’ The court asked all the parties in the matter to give their views.

August 23, 2022: The Supreme Court will hear the matter and can give some important decisions.

The Election Commission overruled the issue of freebies

During the hearing in the Supreme Court, the Election Commission said that it is not in the power of the Election Commission to regulate the policies adopted by the parties on freebies. It is the policy decision of political parties to promise freebies before elections or to give them after elections. Taking any action without making rules in this regard would be an abuse of the powers of the Election Commission.