Ahead of the general elections commencing on April 19, the Supreme Court has consented to schedule a hearing Tomorrow (March 20th) for a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the tradition of political parties offering freebies during electoral campaigns.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Today (March 20th) agreed to prioritize a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the common practice among political parties of promising freebies during election campaigns. This development, occurring just ahead of the general elections set to commence on April 19, underscores the significance of the issue at hand.
The PIL not only calls for scrutiny of the practice but also urges the Election Commission to exercise its authority by freezing the election symbols and revoking the registration of parties engaged in such behavior.
“This is important. We will keep this on board tomorrow.”
-remarked the bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, today, acknowledging the urgency expressed by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, representing lawyer and PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay.
The plea contends that offering populist measures to gain electoral advantage violates constitutional principles and demands suitable deterrent measures from the Election Commission to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
It further seeks a declaration from the court that the practice of promising irrational freebies funded by public resources before elections unfairly influences voters, disrupts fair competition, and compromises the sanctity of the electoral process.
“The recent trend of political parties to influence voters by offering freebies with an eye on elections is not only the greatest threat to the survival of democratic values but also injures the spirit of the Constitution,”
-asserted the plea.
Describing this practice as akin to bribing the electorate with public funds to retain power, the petition emphasizes the need to refrain from such unethical behavior to uphold democratic principles and practices.
The petition implores the Supreme Court to direct the Election Commission to introduce an additional clause in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, stipulating that political parties cannot promise or distribute irrational freebies funded by public resources before elections.
Furthermore, the petitioner urges the apex court to declare that the pledge or distribution of private goods or services, not intended for public use, using public funds before elections, violates several articles of the Constitution, including Article 14.
In India, there are currently eight officially recognized national political parties, along with 56 state-level recognized parties. Additionally, the country boasts approximately 2,800 registered but unrecognized political parties, indicating a diverse political landscape.
The upcoming general elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will unfold across seven phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding on June 1. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4, marking a pivotal moment in the democratic process.
The nomination process for candidates contesting in the initial phase, encompassing 102 parliamentary constituencies spread across 21 states and Union territories, commenced Today following the issuance of a formal notification. This marks the initiation of a crucial electoral journey that will shape the political landscape of the nation.
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