Rational freebies

Only legislatures can decide the parameters of welfare spending

On Tuesday, a Bench of the Supreme Court that included the Chief Justice of India asked the Union government to evolve a view on “freebies” in election campaigns. This was as it heard a case from a petitioner who sought that the Election Commission of India (ECI) prevent state and national political parties from promising such “freebies”— especially given the fiscal implications of such promises. The court expressed concern that such promises might influence voting behaviour and thus lead to unfairness at the polls. The court’s concern is understandable, and reflects a broader sentiment in that such politicking is wasteful