Supreme Court Agrees to Hear PIL Challenging Political Parties’ Poll Freebie Promises
Top court to hear plea in March seeking action against parties promising “irrational freebies” before elections
New Delhi, Feb 5: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear in March a public interest litigation (PIL) that calls for strict action against political parties promising what the petitioner describes as “irrational freebies” ahead of elections. The plea seeks directions to either seize party symbols or deregister parties engaging in such practices.
The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyaya, who noted that notices had already been issued to the Centre and the Election Commission in 2022. Acknowledging the significance of the issue, the Chief Justice assured that the case would be scheduled for hearing next month.
The petition argues that pre-election giveaways funded by public money can distort the electoral process by influencing voter choice and undermining fair competition. It further contends that unchecked promises strain government finances and weaken democratic principles.
Earlier observations by the apex court had described the growing “freebie budget” as a serious concern, noting that such expenditures sometimes exceed regular allocations. The petitioner has also proposed an alternative remedy—directing the Union government to frame legislation regulating such promises.
Additionally, the plea urges the Election Commission to amend the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, to include a provision barring recognised parties from offering private goods or services that do not serve a broader public purpose.
Citing constitutional provisions such as Article 14, the petition maintains that distributing benefits primarily aimed at electoral gain violates the mandate for free and fair polls and threatens the integrity of the democratic framework.
