Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Sops for votes: On election promises

Sops for votes: On election promises

Promising gifts in run-up to polls, not welfare, is the real ‘freebie (मुफ्त)’ issue

After considering the formation of an expert body to examine the issues relating to political parties promising free goods to voters in their election manifestoes (घोषणा करना, प्रकट करना), the Supreme Court has stayed its hand and referred the issue to a three-judge Bench. Also referred for deeper consideration is the correctness of an earlier judgment (निर्णय) in S. Subramaniam Balaji vs Tamil Nadu (2013), which ruled that making promises in a manifesto would not amount to a corrupt practice. The proceedings before a Bench, headed by the now retired Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, last week, offered crucial (गंभीर, अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण) perspectives (परिप्रेक्ष्य, दृष्टिकोण) on the political economy of welfarism, socialism and pre-election promises of ‘freebies’. Over the few hearings, the Bench moved from vague (अस्पष्ट) references to ‘freebies’ to making rational distinctions between welfare schemes and socio-economic concessions (रियायत, छूट) on the one hand, and poll-time announcements of material goods and items as incentives to vote. This clarity itself was lacking in the initial stages, as omnibus (सार्वत्रिक) references to ‘freebies’ and raillery against political parties for their approach to welfare dominated the discourse. Those who have approached the Court against irrational promises found support from the Union government. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi making public comments disapproving of the ‘freebie’ culture, the Government’s stand is no surprise.

However, the Government was reluctant (संकोची) to examine the issue through discussions among political parties and favoured a judicially appointed panel. But, such a panel may not achieve much. Most parties oppose any fetters (बंधन, रुकावट) on their right to appeal to voters through means of their choice and, if elected, use their mandate (जनादेश) to distribute finances and resources as they deem fit, subject to law and legislative approval. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Bench has included in its reference, questions on the scope of judicial intervention in the matter and whether any enforceable (साध्य, प्रवर्तनीय, लागू करने योग्य) order can be passed. The two-judge Bench judgment in 2013 had examined the issue in the backdrop of the DMK coming to power in 2006 on a promise to distribute television sets to the poor and implementing it. It ruled that the Directive (आदेश) Principles of State Policy allow such schemes and that spending of public funds on them could not be questioned if it was based on appropriations passed by the legislature. It also concluded that poll promises by a party could not be termed a ‘corrupt practice’. That Bench had also rejected the argument that giving benefits to everyone, that is, the poor and the well-off, would violate the equality norm in Article 14. When it came to state largesse (उदारता), it said, the rule against treating unequals as equals would not be applicable. Does this amount to implying that the Directive Principles can override fundamental rights, as the petitioners have argued? This too awaits examination.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Freebie (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुफ्त
English Meaning - A thing given free of cost

2.Manifest (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - घोषणा करना, प्रकट करना
English Meaning - Show (a quality or feeling) by one's acts or appearance; demonstrate.

3.Judgment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्णय
English Meaning - The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.

4.Crucial (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - गंभीर, अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण
English Meaning - Of great importance.

5.Perspective (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिप्रेक्ष्य, दृष्टिकोण
English Meaning - A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something

6.Vague (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अस्पष्ट
English Meaning - Of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning.

7.Concessions (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - रियायत, छूट
English Meaning - A thing that is granted, especially in response to demands.

8.Omnibus (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सार्वत्रिक
English Meaning - Comprising several items.

9.Reluctant (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संकोची
English Meaning - Unwilling and hesitant.

10.Mandate (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - जनादेश
English Meaning - A command from a higher authority to a lower one.

11.Fetters (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बंधन, रुकावट
English Meaning - A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.

12.Enforceable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - साध्य, प्रवर्तनीय, लागू करने योग्य
English Meaning - Something that can be enforced.

13.Largesse (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - उदारता
English Meaning - Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.

14.Directive (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - आदेश
English Meaning - An official or authoritative instruction.

15.Sop (Noun)

English Meaning - A thing given or done as a concession of no great value to appease someone whose main concerns or demands are not being met.