Supreme Court issues notices to Centre, election panel on PIL against poll freebies

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought replies from the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL seeking direction to seize the symbol or deregister a political party that promises or distributes "irrational freebies" before polls, saying it is a "serious issue" as sometimes "freebie budget is going beyond regular budget".

A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli sought the response in four weeks on the PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay.

The plea, filed ahead of assembly polls in five states, said there should be a total ban on such populist measures to gain undue political favour from voters as they violate the Constitution and the EC should take suitable deterrent measures.

The bench took note of submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Upadhyay, that a law need to be framed on the issue and steps like seizure of party symbols or taking back the registration of parties or both may be thought of as ultimately it is the citizens who have to pay up.

"Let us see. For the time being, we will issue notice and let the Government of India and the Election Commission come back with some response," the bench said after hearing brief arguments.

The bench said that political parties may be included as parties to the plea later. "Legally, I am asking some legal questions in the debate. We want to know how to control all this. It is a serious issue, no doubt. Freebie budget is going beyond regular budget and sometimes, as observed by the Supreme Court in this paragraph (of an earlier judgment), it is not the level playing field.

"The parties who make more promises have the advantage and chance of winning the elections even though it does not amount to corrupt practices under the law," the bench said.

It took note of the fact that the poll panel has conducted only one meeting on the issue of promise of freebies during the polls after the apex court's judgment on the issue.

"The apex court had directed the Election Commission to frame guidelines on this. They have framed guidelines but without any teeth," the senior lawyer responded.

At the outset, Singh said in states, having huge debt, parties are promising freebies and please see, ultimately it is the public, whose money is promised to be given. Every party is doing the same thing and there has to be some legislation on this aspect, he said, adding

"I do not want to name any party". "If every party has been doing the same thing then why in the affidavit you have named only two (political) parties," the bench said and asked Singh to read the judgment of the apex court on the issue.

"I do not understand. You enlighten us about the second part of it that is legislation and legislation for what purpose," the CJI asked. The law is needed for controlling activities like promises or distribution of "irrational freebies" from public funds before the polls, the lawyer said.

"Pease see, Article 282 of the Constitution and every expenditure has to be approved by the legislature. If the legislature passes the law then it will have to be followed....When some party offers Rs 1,000 to every woman, the other says FRs 2,000. If this is how the elections are being held then ultimately who will pay this money... look at Punjab, the debt was 1.82 thousand crore is," the lawyer said.

The bench asked the lawyer not to name a state and refer to the pleadings to suggest the remedy to control the menace. (PTI)