As political parties continue making lofty poll-eve promises, the Supreme Court took a dig at the “freebie culture” on Wednesday, saying people weren’t motivated to work since they were receiving free money and food.
“People aren’t willing to put in the effort due to election-related goodies, like ‘Ladki Bahin’ and some various other schemes. They are receiving rations and money without doing any work!” While hearing a petition regarding the right to shelter for homeless people in metropolitan areas, Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih said, “I am telling you from personal experiences…because of these freebies, people do not want to work.”
The court questioned whether these schemes, rather than integrating beneficiaries into mainstream society and contributing to national development, were instead creating a “class of parasites.”
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, informed the court that the government was finalizing an urban poverty alleviation mission to address concerns, including the provision of shelter for the homeless.
The court directed him to specify a timeline for its implementation and scheduled the matter for further hearing in six weeks.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan refuted the court’s concerns, asserting that no one in the country preferred idleness over work if employment opportunities were available. However, Justice Gavai disagreed, saying, “You must be having only one-sided knowledge.”
Citing his personal experience, Justice Gavai added, “I come from an agricultural family. In Maharashtra, due to the pre-election freebies, farmers are struggling to find laborers as people receive free ration and money at home.”
While acknowledging the importance of providing shelter to the homeless, the court questioned whether the welfare approach should be more balanced. The discussion comes amid longstanding debates on the role of government handouts in electoral politics.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled in 2013 that promises of freebies in election manifestos distorted the electoral process and directed the Election Commission to establish guidelines in consultation with political parties. However, substantial progress on the issue remains elusive.
In 2022, the top court sought suggestions from the Centre, Niti Aayog, Finance Commission, Law Commission, RBI, and political parties to address the issue of irrational poll-time giveaways. The matter remains pending.
During the hearing, data was presented regarding urban homelessness. Bhushan cited government records indicating that as of December 4, 2024, states and union territories had sanctioned 2,557 shelters, of which 1,995 were operational with a combined capacity of 1.16 lakh beds.
In Delhi alone, an estimated 3 lakh people were homeless, according to a survey. However, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) reported that it had only 197 functional shelter homes in the capital with a total capacity of 17,000 beds. Of these, just 5,900 were equipped with proper bedding facilities.
With concerns mounting over the sustainability of welfare schemes and their impact on labor markets, the issue of poll-time freebies remains a contentious subject, awaiting further legal and policy deliberations.
