SC slams freebies culture, says States should provide employment

Supreme Court criticizes freebies culture, urging states to prioritize employment opportunities over distributing free services and goods.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 16, 2026) slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country’s economic development.

Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited’s plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if States hand-hold the poor.

“Most of the States in the country are revenue-deficit States and yet they are offering such freebies, overlooking development,” a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi said.

The Bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and States should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.

The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.

The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.