Wondering why the Centre “is hesitating to spell out its stand” on a plea seeking directions to regulate distribution of freebies by political parties using public money, the Supreme Court Tuesday asked it to consult the Finance Commission whether it is possible to check this by regulating allocation of revenue to states.
“Please find out from the Finance Commission,” Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, heading a three-judge bench hearing a petition that seeks directions to stop distribution of freebies since it is draining the exchequer, told Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj after Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal suggested that the Finance Commission would be the appropriate body to do something on the issue.
The bench, also comprising Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli, said it will see to what extent it can or cannot intervene to stop political parties from distributing irrational freebies and asked the ASG to inform it, which authorities should be prodded to at least start a debate on the subject.
“Let us see. Primarily we will see if there is something which we can do or not. Next week, sometime, I will list. In the meanwhile, you just find out what/who is the authority where we can initiate a debate or something,” the CJI said.
The Supreme Court had issued notice to the Centre and Election Commission of India on the plea by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay in January this year.
Responding to the notice, the ECI said it has no power to regulate the same or take action against parties making such poll promises. In an affidavit, the poll body said “offering/distribution of any freebies either before or after election is a policy decision of the party concerned, and whether such policies are financially viable or its adverse effect on the economic health over the state is a question that has to be considered and decided by the voters... The Election Commission of India cannot regulate state policies and decisions which may be taken by the winning party when they form the government.”
(With inputs from agencies)