The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a public interest litigation challenging the practice of political parties promising or distributing “irrational freebies” before elections. The plea seeks directions to seize the election symbol or deregister any political party that makes such promises.
The PIL was filed by lawyer‑petitioner Ashwini Updhyaya, who urged the court to examine the issue and ensure timely action. Notices on the petition had been issued to the Centre and the Election Commission previously, and the petitioner requested that the matter be listed for hearing soon.
During the proceedings, the bench agreed to list the case for hearing in March, acknowledging that the issue of poll freebies is significant and requires judicial scrutiny. The plea argues that the trend of promising or distributing freebies to influence voters undermines democratic values and the integrity of the electoral process.
The petition contends that the promise or distribution of private goods or services from public funds before elections can unduly influence voters, disturb the level playing field among contesting parties, and violate various provisions of the Constitution, including equality before the law. It also seeks a direction to the Centre to enact a law addressing the practice and to the Election Commission to amend conditions for party recognition to prohibit the promise or distribution of irrational freebies from public funds before elections.
The Supreme Court had earlier sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission on this PIL, describing the matter as serious and noting concerns that expenditure on freebies sometimes exceeded regular budgetary limits.
