The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies
culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the
country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution
Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all
irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite
understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
"Most of the states in the country are revenue
deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies" overlooking
development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya
Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
The bench said economic development of the nation
gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to
open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to
all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and
others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which
proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the
Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
"What kind of culture are we developing in
India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to
provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges," the
bench asked.
"But without drawing a distinction between
those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not
amount to an appeasing policy," the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm
suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was
notified.
"The states should work to open avenues for
employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free
cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to
the work culture," the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on
development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such
largesse.