"Can Universal Healthcare Be Seen As Freebie?": Supreme Court Continues To Seek Definition

Promises alone aren't the basis of parties being elected, court says, in latest hearing of petition that demands bar on seeking votes for "freebies"

The Supreme Court today asked what a "freebie" really means, among other observations, during a hearing in which it asked political parties to file their responses. The Centre, however, continued with its argument against "freebies" -- also defined as 'revdi' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- saying, "We are not opposed to socialism but if social welfare means distributing everything for free... then it's an immature understanding of the term."

This conflict, which has sparked a political and philosophical debate, is at the nub of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who happens to be a BJP leader. He has opposed the practice of political parties promising free things and services. The Election Commission should cancel such parties' registration, his plea argues.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Krishna Murari, set the next hearing for Monday after asking all those party to the case to make their submissions in writing.

"Some say political parties cannot be prevented from making promises to the voters... Now, it has to be defined what is freebie," the bench observed.