Supreme Court of India Takes Action on Election Freebies
The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Centre and the Election Commission of India regarding a plea that seeks to classify promises of freebies by political parties during elections as bribes. This notice was issued by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Petition Details
The petition, filed by Shashank J Shreedhara from Karnataka, requests the Election Commission to prevent political parties from making such promises before elections. It argues that these unregulated promises place a heavy financial burden on public funds and lack mechanisms to ensure fulfillment.
Concerns Raised
The petition highlights that promises of freebies, especially in cash, are often made without explaining how they will be funded. This lack of transparency can lead to unfulfilled promises or populist schemes that strain public finances. The petition claims this practice undermines fair elections by influencing voters with immediate benefits rather than policies.
Call for Action
The petitioner criticizes the Election Commission for not taking sufficient steps to address this issue, despite its duty to ensure fair elections. The plea emphasizes the need for the Commission to uphold democratic integrity by curbing unethical practices.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court of India -: The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial court in the country. It makes important decisions on legal matters and ensures that laws are followed properly.
Freebies in Elections -: Freebies in elections refer to promises made by political parties to give free goods or services to people if they win. These can include things like free electricity, water, or gadgets.
Centre -: In this context, ‘Centre’ refers to the central government of India. It is responsible for governing the entire country and making national policies.
Election Commission -: The Election Commission of India is an independent authority responsible for conducting free and fair elections in the country. It ensures that elections are held smoothly and according to the rules.
Bribes -: Bribes are illegal payments or gifts given to someone to influence their actions or decisions. In elections, it means giving something to voters to make them vote in a certain way.
Shashank J Shreedhara -: Shashank J Shreedhara is the person who filed the petition in the Supreme Court. He is concerned about the impact of election freebies on fair elections.
Democratic integrity -: Democratic integrity means maintaining fairness and honesty in a democracy. It ensures that elections are conducted without unfair practices and that the will of the people is respected.
