Connect with us
हिंदी اردو
Monday,25-August-2025
Breaking News

National News

SC says freebies to influence voters’ serious issue, asks Centre for way to curb it

Published

3 years ago

on

The Supreme Court on Tuesday flagged the issue of political parties promising freebies to influence voters as serious, and asked the Central government to examine the matter so as to control promises of freebies to induce the electorate.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana asked the Centre, to find out from the Finance Commission, if there is a possibility of curbing state governments and political parties from promising and distributing irrational freebies to induce voters.

Initially, the bench queried Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj to find out Centre’s stand on the issue.

“You take a stand whether freebies should continue or not,” the bench, also comprising Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli, told Nataraj, representing the Central government.

On the other hand, counsel representing the Election Commission submitted that it was held in previous judgments that a manifesto was part of the promises of a political party.

At this, the bench replied: “We are on freebies to bribe the electorate. Now if you say it’s hands off for you, then what is the purpose of the Election Commission of India?”

In April this year, the EC told the Supreme Court that offering freebies either before or after the elections is a policy decision of the political party, and it cannot regulate state policies and decisions taken by the parties.

The EC counsel suggested that the Central government could bring a law to deal with the issue, but Nataraj suggested that it falls under the domain of the EC.

Taking exceptions to Nataraj’s submissions, the bench asked the Central government to take a stand on the matter.

“Why don’t you say that you have nothing to do with it and the ECI has to take a call? I’m asking if the government of India is considering whether it’s a serious issue or not?

“Why are you hesitating to take a stand? You take a stand and then we’ll decide whether these freebies are to be continued or not,” it told Nataraj.

At this juncture, the bench turned to senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was present in the courtroom for another matter. “Mr. Sibal is here as a senior parliamentarian. What is your view?…. How to control these freebies?”

Sibal said freebies were a “serious issue” and it would be not fair to put the liability on the Central government. He said this issue had to be tackled at the state government level and suggested tapping into the expertise of the Finance Commission.

Citing that the Finance Commission is an independent body, Sibal added that while making allocations to the states, it can examine debts of each individual state and could scrutinise whether offers of freebies are viable, or not.

The bench then told Nataraj: “Please find out from the Finance Commission. Will list this sometime next week… what is the authority to initiate debate…”.

The top court scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 3.

Petitioner advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay termed the issue serious and submitted that EC should bar the state and national political parties from giving such things. “There should be some reasonable promise,” said Upadhyay citing a total debt of Rs 6.5 lakh crore. “We’re on our way to becoming Sri Lanka,” he said.

The top court was hearing a PIL by Upadhyay against the announcements made by political parties for inducing voters, through freebies, during elections.

In an affidavit, the ECI said: “Offering/distribution of any freebies either before or after the election is a policy decision of the party concerned and whether such policies are financially viable or its adverse effect on the economic health of the state is a question that has to be considered and decided by the voters of the state.”

It added: “The Election Commission cannot regulate state policies and decisions which may be taken by the winning party when they form the government. Such an action without enabling provisions in the law, would be an overreach of powers.”

Upadhyay’s PIL claimed that the promise or distribution of irrational freebies from public funds before polls shakes the roots of a free and fair election, and vitiates the purity of the election process. The plea sought a direction from the top court to declare that the promise of irrational freebies, which are not for public purposes, from public funds before election, violates Articles 14, 162, 266(3), and 282 of the Constitution.

The plea contended that a condition should be imposed on the political party that they would not promise or distribute irrational freebies from the public fund. The EC responded that it “may result in a situation where the political parties will lose their recognition even before they display their electoral performance”. The top court had issued notice on the plea on January 25.

Post Views: 114
Related Tags:

National News

ED Arrests Congress MLA’s Associate In Sikkim Over Illegal Betting Racket, Seizes ₹6 Crore Cash

Published

2 days ago

on

August 23, 2025

By

Bengaluru, Aug 23: The Enforcement Directorate, which raided over 30 premises on Friday to unearth the illegal betting racket by Congress MLA from Chithradurga has arrested Veerendra alias Puppy at Gangtok in Sikkim and seized Rs 6 crore unaccounted cash he was carrying with him.

Total Seizures from MLA Hit Rs 12 Crore

With this seizure, the total amount of money seized since Friday from the MLA has accumulated to Rs 12 crore, as the ED had seized cash, foreign currency and gold worth over Rs 6 crore on Friday from his residence in Chitradurga on Friday.

Veerendra alias Puppy, who owns five casinos in Goa — Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean7 Casino, Ocean River Casino, Big Daddy Casino and Puppy’s Casino Pride, is the first time MLA from Chitradurga. Apart from the seizure of money, the ED has frozen his 17 bank accounts and two bank lockers.

Dubai-Based Companies Linked to Gambling Apps

ED officials are looking into the illegal betting racket run by Puppy through gaming APPs called King567, Raja567, Puppies003 and Rathna Gambling. He is suspected to be using his brother Thippeswamy’s Dubai based companies to operate these APPs.

Transit Remand Granted, MLA to Be Produced in Bengaluru

Puppy was produced before Judicial Magistrate at Gangtok and obtained transit remand. He is being brought to Bengaluru to be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate.

Post Views: 60,285
Continue Reading

National News

‘Will Blood & Cricket Flow Together?: Sanjay Raut Writes To PM Modi, Condemns Clearance For India–Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Clash

Published

2 days ago

on

August 23, 2025

By

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut wrote a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning the government’s decision to allow India to play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Raut termed the approval ‘painful and insensitive,’ especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, carried out by Pakistani militants.

In his letter, Raut raised sharp questions for the Prime Minister. He asked how the government could justify sporting ties with Pakistan when it continues to maintain that ‘Operation Sindoor’ against terrorism is still not over. Referring to the 26 women widowed in the Pahalgam attack, he asked whether their grief and emotions had been taken into account. “You once declared that blood and water cannot flow together, will blood and cricket now flow side by side?” Raut questioned.

The Sena UBT leader also accused the government of bowing to external pressure, suggesting that the decision may have been influenced by international powers, including the United States. Further, he alleged that India–Pakistan matches generate large-scale betting and online gambling, in which some BJP members are allegedly involved. Naming Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Raut hinted at possible financial motives behind the clearance.

Raut maintained that had the match been held in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray would have ensured it was disrupted. He charged the Centre with prioritising cricketing ties with Pakistan over Hindutva and national sentiment, accusing the government of rendering patriotism meaningless in the process.

The controversy comes after the Union Ministry of Sports granted clearance for India’s participation in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan, despite weeks of growing opposition. Since the Asia Cup schedule was announced, demands for a boycott of the Pakistan fixture had intensified, with many groups calling it inappropriate to play Pakistan while cross-border terrorism persists.

Post Views: 69,300
Continue Reading

National News

PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 2,548 crore urban development projects in Gujarat next week

Published

2 days ago

on

August 23, 2025

By

New Delhi, Aug 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on August 25 and 26, inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of urban development projects worth Rs 2,548 crore in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The announcement comes as the state celebrates Urban Development Year and marks two decades of reforms initiated by PM Modi during his tenure as the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Of the total investment, development projects worth Rs 2,267 crore will be dedicated to Ahmedabad.

A key highlight will be the rehabilitation of 1,449 slums in Ahmedabad’s Ramapir Tekra under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) at a cost of Rs 133 crore.

The project promises amenities such as an anganwadi, health centre, solar rooftops, and PNG gas connections.

In the water sector, PM Modi will inaugurate a Rs 27-crore drinking water project under Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), featuring a 15-lakh litre clear water pump, pumping station, and a 23-km trunk pipeline, ensuring safe water supply to 10 villages in Daskroi taluka of Ahmedabad district.

The foundation stones will also be laid for several civic works, including a stormwater drainage system in Shela, Manipur, Godhavi, Sanathal, and Telav, redevelopment of Law Garden and Mithakali precinct, new water distribution stations in Thaltej, Naranpura, and Chandkheda, and reconstruction of the Asarwa Railway Over Bridge.

Additionally, a mini sports complex at Sarkhej, to be built at a cost of Rs 56.52 crore, is expected to further Ahmedabad’s sporting infrastructure.

A major announcement will be the six-laning of the Sardar Patel Ring Road at a cost of Rs 1,624 crore.

Executed in two phases under hybrid annuity mode, the project will include service roads spanning 62 km, enhancing traffic flow and safety around Ahmedabad.

In Gandhinagar, projects worth Rs 281 crore will be launched — Rs 243 crore under the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and Rs 38 crore under the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority.

These initiatives focus on improving roads, sanitation, water supply, and flood management.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate a pipeline system from Charedi headworks to Pethapur and Rakheja, built at Rs 44 crore, which will deliver Narmada water to nearly 55,000 residents.

He will also inaugurate new sewage treatment plants and pumping stations at Dabhoda, benefiting around 17,000 people.

The foundation works include a Rs 72-crore road parallel to the Metro from Dholakuva to Pancheshwar Circle, a stormwater drainage line at Pethapur, and new water and sewer lines at Koba, Raysan, and Randesan.

With these projects, Gujarat aims to strengthen its infrastructure backbone and further enhance the ease of living for its citizens.

Post Views: 70,318
Continue Reading

Trending