SC suggests setting up ‘dispassionate’ body to resolve freebies issue

SC doubts whether effective debates may happen on freebies in Parliament when “reality” is parties want freebies to stay

The Supreme Court on July 3 said the Parliament may not be able to effectively debate the issue of doing away with "irrational freebies" offered to voters during elections, saying the "reality" is that not a single political party wants to take away freebies.

The court suggested setting up a specialised body composed of persons who can “dispassionately” examine the problem.

The observations from a Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana came even as the Centre said these freebies were paving the way to an "economic disaster" besides "distorting the informed decision of voters". The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said it "substantially and in principle" supported doing away with the practice of promising freebies to voters.

Mr. Mehta said the court should allow the Election Commission of India (ECI) to "apply its mind" to the problem.

But senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the ECI should be "kept away" from the discussion on freebies. "ECI is MFI (Most Favoured Institution)," Mr. Sibal. He said the issue was political and economical in nature and did not just concern elections.

"The Parliament will have to debate," Mr. Sibal said.

"Mr. Sibal, do you think there will be a debate in the Parliament? These days everyone wants freebies. Not a single political party will allow freebies to be taken away… We take the side of the ordinary people, the downtrodden. Their welfare has to be taken care of. We are not just looking at this as just another problem during election time… We are looking at the national economic well-being," Chief Justice Ramana said.