The Freebies case was one of 20 sessions that were webcast from the Ceremonial Bench, the bench of the Chief Justice, for the first time.
The Supreme Court today requested an expert group and an all-party meeting to discuss political parties’ promises of freebies before elections. For the first time, the order was live-streamed to commemorate the final day as Chief Justice NV Ramana.
The Freebies case was one of 20 sessions that were webcast from the Ceremonial Bench, the bench of the Chief Justice, for the first time.
Political parties that give away things during and after elections are being called to account in a petition.
“There is no doubt that the electorate holds the real power in an elected democracy. The electorate assesses the politicians and parties, “said CJI N.V Ramana.
“We believe that to investigate the problem, we should form an expert committee. We suggested to the centre to organise an all-party meeting at the most recent hearing, “said the outgoing Chief Justice.
During hearings, several political parties contended that they weren’t gifts to the public but rather welfare measures.
The Supreme Court also decided that a petition for reconsideration of a 2013 decision in a related matter would be decided by a three-judge bench. In the Directive Principles of State Policy for the Welfare of Citizens, it was declared in that order that providing free televisions or laptop computers during elections is not an act of corruption.
Before this, the court had questioned why the Center hadn’t convened an all-party meeting to discuss the “serious issue” of manifestos by political parties The judges had noted that nothing could happen unless all political parties agree that freebies will ruin the economy and must be stopped.
“There must be a discussion. There is no denying the seriousness of the situation. Why do not all political parties convene, and why can’t the Indian government call for such a meeting? ” The judge stated
CJI NV RAMANA’s LAST JUDGMENTS
N V Ramana is scheduled to issue rulings in five cases on Friday, his last day as Chief Justice of India before retiring. These cases are the PIL seeking a ban on “election freebies,” the Gorakhpur riots case from 2007, the Karnataka mining case, the Rajasthan mining lease issue, and the liquidation rules under bankruptcy law.
The Uttar Pradesh government refused to provide permission to prosecute Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the 2007 Gorakhpur riots case for allegedly making an inflammatory statement. The Allahabad High Court upheld that decision, and the Supreme Court will rule on the appeal. In the case of attempting to stop political parties from making “freebie” promises before elections, the Supreme court will also issue orders. Previously, CJI Ramana had assembled a three-judge bench to relook at the apex court’s 2013 ruling on the freebies issue.
Separately, the Supreme Court will hear a request for bail made by Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan on Friday. He and three others were detained on October 5, 2020, while he was travelling to Hathras after raping and killing a Dalit girl by the Uttar Pradesh police under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
