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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | How to define a ‘freebie’? EC in a fix over SC order -Bharti Jain

How to define a ‘freebie’? EC in a fix over SC order -Bharti Jain

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published Published on Jul 12, 2013   modified Modified on Jul 12, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Even as the Election Commission plans consultations with political parties in the first week of August on a recent Supreme Court order seeking framing of guidelines for parties' poll manifestoes, senior commission officials are in a dilemma on how to define a "freebie" in the first place.

The poll watchdog plans to sound out all recognized national and state parties in the first week of August on the SC order frowning upon the politics of handouts and giveaways.

However, before they get to hear from the political class, EC has to figure out how it should tell a "freebie" meant to induce voters from a "valid development or welfare-oriented promise" which a political party can legitimately put in its election manifesto. As an EC official said, while offering a laptop to students in Delhi may be a freebie, if the same laptop were to be offered to a promising dalit student in Uttar Pradesh with limited means, it would become an educational tool.

"What may be a freebie in one state may be a much-needed welfare incentive in another state. If a free bicycle is offered to a poor tribal girl in Chhattisgarh who has to walk 10 km to school, it is an incentive for her to continue her education. But if the same bicycle is offered to girls in Chennai, it could be perceived as a freebie," the commission official said.

Not able to decide how to distinguish a freebie from a development or welfare-based incentive that should not be struck off the poll manifestoes, the EC is now limiting itself to preparing a background paper on the subject and will circulate it to political parties for their views.

The government too does not agree with the idea of regulating poll manifestoes as the promises therein are only a declaration of intent. "Manifestoes are an intent of a party. How can anybody put a restraint on it," asked a senior law ministry functionary.

According to the EC, there is another practical difficulty in implementing the proposed guidelines for poll manifestoes. "Given that the court asked the guidelines to be part of the model code of conduct, the EC shall have no punitive powers in the event of violations. The model code being a voluntary pact among the parties, the commission can at most issue strictures if these guidelines are flouted," said an official.

The EC is expecting the political parties to raise similar issues at the all-party meet. "Let us see what comes out of the discussions and if there is a meeting of minds on how to regulate content of poll manifestoes," said a commission official.


The Times of India, 12 July, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/How-to-define-a-freebie-EC-in-a-fix-over-SC-order/articleshow/21028571.cms


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