Supreme Court Rejects Plea for Expert Committee on Freebies Impact

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea on Thursday that sought to appoint an expert committee to analyze the adverse impacts of state-sponsored freebies and direct cash benefits. The bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, concluded that the writ petition was unworthy of consideration.

The petition called for a directive to the central government and relevant authorities, demanding the implementation of any freebies or cash benefit schemes only after thorough economic and financial evaluations. The plea urged these schemes to be approved by the Reserve Bank of India, NITI Aayog, and state planning bodies.

Additionally, the plea recommended capping allocations for such schemes at a fiscally sustainable level, not exceeding one percent of the Gross State Domestic Product, or the state's own tax revenue, whichever is lower. It emphasized the need for responsible implementation that doesn't jeopardize fiscal stability or essential public services.

(With inputs from agencies.)