Election Commission to hold consultations on implementation SC judgement on freebies

The Election Commission of India has decided to call a meeting of all recognized national and sate political parties to hold consultations on implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, dated July 5 in SLP(c) No.21455 of 2008 and TC No.112 of 2011 - S. Subramaniam Balaji Vs. Government of Tamil Nadu and others in the matter of framing guidelines on manifestoes of political parties.

The date for such a meeting will be fixed very soon. The Commission has in the meanwhile sent a copy of the judgment to the recognized parties for their information and firming up of views.

The Commission has taken note of the Supreme Court directions that it should frame guidelines regarding the election manifestoes of political parties. It has decided to seek the views of political parties in the matter before taking up further action.

The Commission will shortly circulate a background paper in the matter among political parties. In preparation for this, the Commission has started making efforts to compile available views and practices in this subject both nationally and internationally.

Freebies promised by political parties in their election manifestos shake the roots of free and fair polls, the Supreme Court said earlier on July, and directed the Election Commission to frame guidelines for regulating contents of manifestos.