Free Scheme: The Aam Aadmi Party has reached the Supreme Court in defense of the free schemes. The AAP has called the announcement of such schemes a democratic and constitutional right of political parties. In the application filed by the party, questions have also been raised on the intention of the petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay.
Last week, a three-judge bench headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana had expressed concern over the damage being done to the economy by unnecessary free schemes. Referring to the debt of lakhs of crores of rupees outstanding on the states, the Supreme Court had indicated to form a committee to resolve the matter. The court had asked the parties involved in the case to suggest the names of possible members of this committee. The next hearing of the case is to be held on Thursday, August 11.
‘AAP’ raised questions on the petitioner
In the application filed by appointing its national secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta as its representative, the Aam Aadmi Party has described lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the free schemes, as a political person. The party has said that Upadhyay has a long association with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The purpose of his petition is not public interest, but political interest.
AAP has also demanded to make itself a party in the case. It is said that the concept of welfare state has been given in the Indian Constitution. Governments are expected to provide facilities to every section of the society. In such a situation, if the government provides something for the convenience of the needy people, then it is wrong to call it freebies.
Can’t stop leaders from announcing
Ashwini Upadhyay’s petition has demanded from the Supreme Court that the announcement of free schemes during the election campaign should be seen as bribing voters. The Election Commission may use its powers to cancel the recognition of the party making such declaration, but the Aam Aadmi Party has said that freedom of expression is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Certain limits have been given in the constitution of this right, but the promise of any scheme for the welfare of the people by the leaders from their platform does not violate any of this limit. Therefore, his speech cannot be controlled like this.
The court had also rightly said to help the poor.
Keep in mind that while listening to the matter, the Chief Justice had also said that it is the duty of the governments to help improve the standard of living of the poor and needy people, but unnecessary free schemes are doing a lot of damage to the country. The court had also said that no party wants to discuss the economy of the debt-ridden states due to the political gains arising out of such announcements.
‘Many reasons for state debt’
In the petition of the party led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, it has been said that the debt of lakhs of crores of rupees outstanding on the states is due to many reasons. The petitioner has tried to blame it only on the free schemes. The central government is also giving many benefits including free food grains to the needy. The Aam Aadmi Party has also said that big industrialists and business houses are also given many facilities. Sometimes their loans are forgiven.
‘Every party’s representative should be in the committee’
At the end of its application, AAP has also suggested the constitution of the committee. It has been said that if the Supreme Court wants to constitute a committee in this matter, then in that committee, apart from representatives of institutions like Reserve Bank, Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, 1-1 representatives of all the state governments of the country should be appointed. also be included. Also, 1-1 representative of each political party should also be kept in the committee. Representatives of NGOs working among the people at the grassroot level should also get a place in the committee.
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