Freebies: SC suggests Centre to call for an all party meeting
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there must be a “debate” on the “serious” issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies and asked why cannot the centre call for an all-party meeting on it.
The court said until and unless there is a unanimous decision among political parties that freebies are going to destroy the economy and have to be stopped, nothing can happen as it is only political parties that would make such promises and contest elections and not individuals.
“….Why do not the Government of India call for an all-party meeting?” the Supreme Court said.
“There must be a debate. The issue is serious, there is no doubt about it. The question is, why do not all political parties meet and the Government of India can call for a meeting,” it observed.
The observations by a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Hima Kohli and C T Ravikumar came while it was deliberating on a plea opposing promises of such handouts by the parties during polls.