Supreme Court takes dig at Maharashtra government for populist budget, freebies

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a dig at Maharashtra government's recent budget under which various sops have been announced ahead of the State Assembly elections this year..A Bench of Justices BR Gavai, KV Viswanathan and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a matter related to the compliance with its earlier order directing payment of compensatory afforestation levy by the State in connection with denotification of forest land at Pashan, Pune.Standing Counsel Aaditya Aniruddha Pande submitted that the compliance affidavit was not filed yet even as the State was ready to pay.This prompted Justice Gavai to remark,"Do not take the Court for granted. You cannot treat every order of the Court in a casual manner. You have enough of money for Laadli bahu (schemes) and all. All the money spent on freebies, you should take money for compensating the loss of land."Justice Gavai hails from Maharashtra and was earlier a judge of the Bombay High Court..In the budget presented in June, the Eknath Shinde-led government had reportedly announced various populist schemes that are expected to put additional burden of ₹96,000 crores on the State's finances.According to a report of the Times of India, the budget showered an array of sops on various groups including women, youth, farmers, marginalised and the poor. .The Bench eventually gave time to the State till August 9 to file the affidavit. It warned that in case of failure to file a reply, the Chief Secretary of the State would be directed to remain present in court. "File it, else we will have to hamper their Independence Day preparations" Justice Gavai said in a lighter vein..Pertinently, the Supreme Court is seized of a plea by BJP leader and advocate, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seeking regulation of 'freebies' promised by political parties in their election manifestoes.The Court had in October 2023 observed that all kinds of promises are made before elections and that courts cannot control such acts.