Supreme Court proposes expert body for regulation of freebies

By Our Special Correspondent

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that the apex body comprising Niti Aayog, Finance Commission, and ruling, opposition parties, RBI and other stakeholders is required to give directions on how to control freebies of political parties during campaigning.

The Supreme Court took up a hearing on a petition filed against giving free guarantees by political parties during elections.

An SC bench headed by CJI N V Ramana said the panel was necessary to determine the pros and cons of freebies as they had a "significant impact on the economy".

The proposed body will examine how to regulate freebies and submit a report to the Centre, Election Commission (EC), and SCs. The court directed the Centre, EC, senior counsel, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal and the petitioners to submit their suggestions on the composition of the expert panel within a week.

The Election Commission said its hands were tied by the court's verdict on freebies, as the apex court said such a situation had arisen due to the "inaction" of the EC. The three-judge bench, in its response, said it would reconsider the said judgment if necessary.

However, CJI Ramana pointed out that no political party would stand against freebies as Sibal had said in the court that it should be left to Parliament to discuss and pass legislation on the issue.

"Do you think Parliament will discuss free things? Which political party will? No political party is against freebies. Everyone wants them. We have to think about the tax payers and the economy of the country," said CJI Ramana.