The Madras High Court has dismissed a PIL seeking a direction on framing guidelines to the effect that winning parties should give 'freebies' from their own funds as promised in their election manifesto.
Dismissing the petition, a division bench of the court's Madurai Bench, comprising Justice S.Manikumar and C.T. Selvam, said it was an issue of jurisdiction and it was within the powers of the state government for implementing the welfare schemes for people.
Additional Advocate General Chellapandian said the issue had been already decided by the Supreme Court after considering the provisions of the Representation of the People act and model code of conduct for elections.
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The petitioner R.Perumal, secretary of an organisation--Hindu Community Coordination, claimed 'freebies' were issued by the party which won the elections from the Public fund.
He claimed very few people benefit from such freebies and it could be stopped stopped only by a joint action by the Judiciary and Election Commission.
The petitioner said he had already filed a representation with the EC to ban announcement of Freebies in the election manifesto, but there was no response.
