Ruling parties duty bound to provide subsidies, schemes to uplift weaker sections; can't be called freebies: Congress leader to Supreme Court

It is the duty of the government to uplift weaker sections of the society and framing schemes and providing subsidies for the same is the duty of ruling parties which run the government, a Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress leader has told the Supreme Court. .In an intervention application filed before the top court, Dr. Jaya Thakur has submitted that giving such subsidies and concessions to citizens is in discharge of Constitutional mandate, which is necessary for democracy."As per our Doctrine of Constitution, ruling parties are duty bound to frame the Policies for welfare & uplifting of the weaker section, accordingly they are rightly giving subsidies and it cannot be said freebies," the application said.The application was filed seeking intervention in public interest litigation (PIL) petition by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking directions to the Central government and the Election Commission to take steps to regulate poll manifestos of political parties and to parties accountable for promises made in such manifestos.The plea by Updhayay has opposed the practice of political parties giving/ promising freebies to voters.Thakur has opposed the plea stating that the issue of 'freebies' has already been settled by the Supreme Court in S Subramaniam Balaji Versus State of Tamil Nadu and Others.In that judgment, it was held that promises made by political parties in election manifestos would not amount to ‘corrupt practices’ as per Section 123 of the Representation of People Act. .The plea has been drawn by advocate VK Thakur and filed through advocate VK Sharma. .During the hearing of the case on August 11, the Supreme Court had made it clear that while it will examine the issue of political parties promising freebies before elections, it will not enter into the prayer to deregister political parties for the same.The Central government has supported the petitioner, stating that that freebies by political parties need to be regulated and the Supreme Court can step in and lay down something until the legislature frame a law in this regard.Freebies and populist promises by political parties have an adverse impact on economy and that is what often lead to economic disasters, the Centre had told the Court on August 3.

Ruling parties duty bound to provide subsidies, schemes to uplift weaker sections; can't be called freebies: Congress leader to Supreme Court

Debayan Roy

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