'Are we not creating a class of parasites?' Supreme Court makes strong observations on freebies by political parties

Hearing a matter on the right to shelter for homeless people in urban areas, a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih said people were getting ration and money without working.

"Rather than promoting them to be a part of the mainstream of the society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creating a class of parasites?" the bench asked.

While making his observation, Justice Gavai referred to the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme in Maharashtra,  under which women in the age group of 21-65 with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh get Rs 1,500 per month, and similar programmes run by ruling parties in other states.

"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... They are getting free ration and money without doing any work," the judge noted.

"We quite appreciate your concern for them but would it not be better to make them a part of the mainstream of society and permit them to contribute to the development of the nation?" the bench asked.

When advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the petitioners, mentioned that there is hardly a person in the country who doesn't want to work if they get one, Justice Gavai said: "You must be having only one-sided knowledge. I come from an agricultural family. Because of the freebies in Maharashtra which they announced just prior to elections, agriculturists are not getting labourers."

The bench noted that everybody, including Attorney General R Venkataramani, was on the same page that providing shelter to the homeless merited attention.

However, it asked, "At the same time, should it not be balanced?"

To this, Venkataramani said the Centre was finalising the urban poverty alleviation mission, which would tackle issues like providing shelter to the urban homeless.

The bench then asked the Attorney General for a timeline and directed the Centre to gather information from all states so that the issue could be considered on a pan-India basis.