The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the practice of political parties promising freebies ahead of elections and wondered whether we are creating a "class of parasites".
The top court's scathing remark came days after the Delhi Assembly elections where all the three major players—BJP, AAP and Congress—had announced a slew of welfare schemes in their manifesto.
The court deprecated such promises and said the free ration and money kept people away from work.
"Rather than promoting them to be a part of the mainstream of the society by contributing to the nation's development, are we not creating a class of parasites?," asked a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih.
Justice Gavai mentioned the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme which had proved to be a game-changer for the BJP in Maharashtra elections.
"Unfortunately, because of these freebies, which just on the anvil of elections are declared, like 'Ladki Bahin' and other schemes, people are not willing to work," he said.
The top court was hearing a petition concerning the right to shelter of homeless persons in urban areas.
Though advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the petitioners, said there wouldn't be anybody who did not want to work if they had work, the bench remained unconvinced.
"You must be having only one-sided knowledge. I come from an agricultural family. Because of the freebies in Maharashtra which they just announced prior to elections, agriculturists are not getting labourers," Justice Gavai said.
However, on providing shelter to the homeless, the court said, everybody was on the same page that the issue merited due attention
"But at the same time, should it not be balanced?" it asked.
During the hearing, Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the court that the Centre was in the process of finalising the urban poverty alleviation mission. It would address various issues, including the provision of shelter for the urban homeless, he added.
The court asked him to get a time frame from the Centre for the implementation of the scheme.
