The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that promises by political parties to grant irrational freebies during the poll process is a “serious issue” but ruled out the possibility of considering a plea for de-recognising parties for making promises to give freebies.
Asking stakeholders to give suggestions on this aspect before August 17, a Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Krishna Murari said the idea to de-recognise political parties for making promises to give irrational freebies during the polls was “undemocratic”.
“I do not want to enter the area of de-registering a political party etc. As it is an undemocratic idea.We are a democracy after all,” the CJI said, adding the issue of promise to grant irrational freebies during the poll process is a “serious” one but he will not encroach into the legislative domain even if there was a statutory vacuum on the matter. “You can call me reluctant or conservative but I do not want to encroach upon the legislative domain...I am a strict orthodox.