NEW DELHI (TIP): As political parties continued to make irrational poll-eve promises, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 12, took a dig at the freebie culture, saying people were not willing to work as they were getting free ration and money.

“Unfortunately, because of these freebies which, just on the anvil of election — ‘Ladki Bahin’ and some other schemes — people are not willing to work. They are getting free rations, amounts without doing any work! I am telling you from personal experiences…because of these freebies, some states give free ration, so the people do not want to work,” a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih said, while hearing a petition on the right to shelter of homeless persons in urban areas. “Rather than permitting them to be a part of the mainstream society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creating a class of parasites?” a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih wondered even as it appreciated the government’s concern for homeless people.

On behalf of the Centre, Attorney General R Venkataramani submitted that the government was in the process of finalizing the urban poverty alleviation mission, which would address various issues, including shelter for the urban homeless.

Asking the Attorney General to spell out how much time it would take to make the urban poverty alleviation mission applicable, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.

As petitioner’s counsel Prashant Bhushan said there was no one in the country who didn’t want to work if they had some work, Justice Gavai shot back, “You must be having only one-sided knowledge.”

Narrating his personal experience, Justice Gavai said, “I come from an agricultural family. Because of the freebies in Maharashtra which they just announced prior to the (assembly) elections, the agriculturists are not getting laborers. Everybody is getting free (ration and money) at home.”

It said everybody, including the Attorney General, was on the same page that providing shelter to the homeless merited due attention. “But at the same time, should it not be balanced?” it asked.

The top court had on July 5, 2013 declared that freebies promised in poll manifestos vitiated the electoral process and asked the Election Commission to frame guidelines to check it in consultation with political parties. However, no substantive progress has been made on the issue.

Acting on a PIL filed by Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, the top court had on August 3, 2022 asked the Centre, Niti Aayog, Finance Commission, Law Commission, RBI and members of ruling and opposition parties to give constructive suggestions to address the issue of irrational poll-eve freebies to influence the electorate. The matter was pending before the top court.

As one of the advocates alleged that authorities showed compassion only for the rich, the Bench asked him not to make political speeches. “How do you say compassion is shown only for the rich? Even for the government, how can you say this?” it asked.

As on December 4, 2024, a total of 2,557 shelters were sanctioned by the states or union territories and 1,995 shelter homes were functional with a capacity of 1.16 lakh beds, Bhushan said, adding a survey showed there were about 3 lakh (300000) urban homeless in Delhi alone. As per Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, the total capacity of the shelters was 17,000 people of which only 5,900 such facilities had beds.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board counsel said the Board had 197 shelter homes running in Delhi as on date with a total capacity of 17,000 people