Ex-servicemen move Karnataka High Court seeking ban on election freebies

Four retired Indian Army personnel have moved a public interest litigation (PIL) petition before the Karnataka High Court seeking a ban on election freebies..The Central and State governments, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, and political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), the Janata Dal (Secular), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have among others been implicated as parties to the case..The plea alleges that these political parties lack genuine interest in the overall development of the nation and in improving the social and economic status of its citizens.It asserts that the practice of offering freebies misleads voters and also leads to the misuse of funds from the State exchequer to secure government office and wield power.According to the plea, such promises to lure voters are nothing but 'cash for votes' under the Representation of the Peoples Act of 1951..The plea, therefore, seeks a direction to governments and election officers to promptly take necessary legal action concerning the announcement or assurance of freebies during Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by candidates or parties.The plea also calls for a direction to the Central government to establish necessary laws and rules pertaining to the assurance or announcement of freebies, given the absence of regulatory provisions in the current legal framework.Furthermore, it seeks a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to formulate fair and proper guidelines in accordance with the Constitution of India and welfare socio-economic principles.