GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 12, expressed disapproval of the practice of distributing freebies ahead of elections, stating that such measures create a “class of parasites” instead of integrating the underprivileged into mainstream society.
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The remarks were made by Justice B.R. Gavai during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the provision of shelter for urban homeless persons in Delhi. Justice Gavai criticised the government’s approach, questioning whether such schemes truly help the homeless or merely foster dependency.
"I am sorry to say, but the affidavit (respondent’s) says this much facilities will be provided to them (homeless persons)... Rather than permitting them to be a part of the mainstream society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creating a class of parasites?" the judge remarked.
Justice Gavai linked this issue to pre-election welfare schemes such as "Ladli Behen" and similar programmes, arguing that the provision of free rations and financial benefits without work discourages labour participation. Sharing a personal experience, the judge stated that in Maharashtra, agricultural workers were unwilling to work due to free benefits announced before elections.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, countered the judge’s observations, asserting that "there is no one in the country who does not want to work if he has work." However, Justice Gavai dismissed this view, stating that Bhushan’s knowledge of the situation was one-sided.
The discussion also touched upon the poor conditions of existing homeless shelters. Bhushan pointed out that some homeless individuals avoid shelters due to their dilapidated state. In response, Justice Gavai questioned whether sleeping on the streets was preferable to staying in a shelter, however inadequate.
While the judge criticised the culture of freebies, he also acknowledged that the right to shelter is now a fundamental right and that the PIL's concerns must be addressed. He further suggested that instead of providing free benefits, a more effective approach would be to integrate the homeless into society and enable them to contribute to national development.
