Law

“States have money for freebies but not to pay judges”: Supreme Court

Ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, the Supreme Court criticized the state government for neglecting the payment of salaries and pensions to judges while allocating funds for election freebies.

The concern was raised over the lack of salaries and retirement benefits provided to justices in the country.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih was hearing a plea filed by the All India Judges Association. The bench highlighted several schemes introduced by political parties during election campaigns, citing examples such as Maharashtra’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme announced by the BJP-led Mahayuti and similar financial promises made by AAP and Congress in Delhi to win elections.

The bench observed, “When it comes to paying judges, states often cite financial constraints. However, during elections, we see announcements of freebies like the ‘Ladki Bahin’ initiative and similar financial promises made by political parties in Delhi, where assurances of paying Rs 2,100 or Rs 2,500 are made to win elections.”

The ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana’, announced by Delhi’s ruling AAP, promises monthly assistance of Rs 2,100 to women if the party forms the government and secures a Chief Ministerial position for the third consecutive term in Delhi.

The Delhi Congress has also announced a similar scheme to counter AAP, assuring that the party will provide monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 to the women of Delhi if it comes to power in the assembly polls.

In Delhi, the single-phase election for 70 constituencies will be held on February 5. The counting of votes will take place on February 8. January 17 is the last date for filing nominations, with scrutiny scheduled for January 18.

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