Today, the Supreme Court is discussing whether to ban political giveaways, just before the Lok Sabha elections.
The request argues for a complete ban on populist measures to avoid gaining unfair political support from voters, stating that such actions go against the Constitution.
On Thursday, March 21, the Supreme Court will listen to a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the practice of political parties offering freebies during elections. This happens just weeks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections starting on April 19.
This is important. We’ll discuss it tomorrow (Thursday),” said a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on Wednesday. They made this statement after the petitioner’s lawyer requested an early hearing.
The request stated that there should be a complete ban on using populist measures to gain unfair political support from voters because it goes against the Constitution. The Election Commission of India should also take appropriate actions to prevent this, according to news agency ANI.
The Supreme Court acknowledged senior advocate Vijay Hansaria’s arguments, representing lawyer and PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, that the plea should be heard before the Lok Sabha elections.
What does the PIL say?
The PIL asked the Supreme Court to declare that offering illogical freebies before elections, funded by public money, unfairly influences voters, disrupts fair competition, and harms the integrity of the election process.
The petitioner argues that the recent practice of political parties offering freebies to win votes in elections is a significant threat to democratic values and undermines the principles of the Constitution.
The PIL stated that this unethical practice is akin to bribing voters using public funds to remain in power. It emphasized the importance of avoiding such actions to uphold democratic principles and practices.
The petition additionally requested the Election Commission to include a regulation in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, stating that political parties are prohibited from pledging or providing nonsensical freebies funded by public funds before an election.
The petitioner asks the Supreme Court to declare that offering or distributing private goods or services, not for public use and funded by public money before elections, goes against several articles of the Constitution, including Article 14.
Lok Sabha elections from April 19
The 18th Lok Sabha elections will take place in seven phases, starting from April 19 and concluding on June 1. Vote counting will occur on June 4.
The nomination process for 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union territories, where voting will take place in the first phase, started on Wednesday with the issuance of a notification
NEW DELHI: In the dock once in 2006 for illegally tapping former SP leader Amar Singh's phone, private detective Anurag Read more
MUMBAI: A local court today directed the Mumbai Police to register FIR against officials concerned of Municipal Corporation of Greater Read more
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Saturday that it had registered a case against the promoters Read more
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted three weeks time to BSP supremo Mayawati to file her reply on Read more
