38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, October 31, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Delhi High Court Declines Urgent Listing of PIL Against Freebies in Elections

By Rahul Tainguria      04 February, 2025 10:49 AM      0 Comments
Delhi High Court Declines Urgent Listing of PIL Against Freebies in Elections

New Delhi: On Monday, February 3, 2025, a petition seeking urgent listing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Justice (Retd.) S.N. Dhingra was mentioned before the Division Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the Delhi High Court.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocates Siddhartha Borgohain and Harshvardhan Sharma stressed the importance of ensuring free and fair elections by preventing voters from being influenced through cash inducements allegedly offered by the respondent political parties - AAP, BJP and Congress. 
However, the bench did not find the matter urgent enough for immediate listing, stating that it would be heard in the normal course whenever scheduled.

Also Read -  Justice S.N. Dhingra Moves Delhi HC against AAP & other  political parties over Poll Freebies & Bribery [Read PIL]

The petitioner’s counsel sought an urgent hearing at 2:00 PM, but the request was declined. Chief Justice Upadhyaya questioned the urgency, remarking, “Why 2 PM? You are challenging the actions of political parties in announcing freebies. Tomorrow is the last day for electioneering, or perhaps today. Whatever impact the freebies were to have has already happened.” He further stated, “It will be listed as per the standing order. We are not commenting on the merits of the case.”

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the announcement of freebies by political parties violated the spirit of the Constitution and that the entire election process was being conducted in contravention of the law laid down by the Supreme Court.

The matter is now listed on February 12, 2025.

The petitioner in this case, Justice (retd) SN Dhingra had first made headlines as a trial court judge, awarding the death sentence to Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru. He had also probed Robert Vadra’s land deal. He was appointed as the chairman of the SIT looking into the closed cases of the 1984 Sikh riots. He was elevated as Delhi HC judge in 2006 and retired from Delhi HC in 2011.

With just a few days left before Delhi votes for the Assembly elections on February 5, he has moved the court against the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Indian National Congress (INC) over their political promises linked to monetary support schemes. The PIL is also seeking that cash-oriented schemes be declared unconstitutional and classified as election manipulation. 

In his PIL, Justice (retd) Dhingra is seeking directions from the HC to the three national parties to “cease and desist from collecting personal and electoral data of voters under false pretence” and that they are directed to not share and use the data collected during elections to any third party.

It is also seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to frame rules for political parties over promises related to monetary support schemes, to conduct an inquiry into “corrupt practices and illegal data collection”, and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent violation of electoral laws. 

In the PIL before the HC, he also highlighted that the AAP, under its scheme of Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, has promised Rs 2,100 as direct bank transfers each month to female voters of Delhi even as the Delhi government’s Department of Women and Child Development has denied such a scheme, and in competing with the same, other parties too have promised similar sops.

Noting that there are around 71.73 lakh female voters in Delhi, the PIL states, “The proposed distribution of Rs 2,100 per month to female voters as promised by respondent parties would result in a financial burden of more than Rs 18,000 crore per annum. This constitutes over 23% of the State of Delhi’s total annual budget, which is Rs 76,000 crore approximately for one fiscal year… such promises in place of vote-seeking constitute corrupt practices under Section 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,as this seeks to unduly influence voters and amount to bribing the voters. Furthermore, the distribution of guarantee cards amounts to unauthorised election-related materials violates Section 127A of the Act.”
 



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

'Without documentary proof, Waqf Board can't lay claim over any property' 'Without documentary proof, Waqf Board can't lay claim over any property'

In 2012, the Anjuman Committee addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Waqf Board stating there is a wall and Chabutrah (platform) on a 'Tiranga Ki Qalandari Masjid where in olden times laborers used to offer prayers.

Delhi High Court Sets Aside Arbitral Tribunal's Award Against NHAI in Highway Project Delay Case [Read Judgment] Delhi High Court Sets Aside Arbitral Tribunal's Award Against NHAI in Highway Project Delay Case [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court sets aside an Arbitral Tribunal's award favoring IRB Pathankot Amritsar Toll Road Ltd over a delay in a highway project. The court finds that the tribunal did not address the essential dispute of whether the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was in material default, rendering the award invalid.

Delhi Court Rejects Stay Request in Defamation Case Against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot [Read Order] Delhi Court Rejects Stay Request in Defamation Case Against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot [Read Order]

A Delhi court refuses to stay the defamation case filed by Union Cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The court declined to stay the summons and sets a hearing date for August 19.

Delhi High Court to Commence Daily Hearings on August 28 for Appeals Against Acquittals in 2G Case Delhi High Court to Commence Daily Hearings on August 28 for Appeals Against Acquittals in 2G Case

Delhi High Court is set to begin day-to-day hearings from August 28 for appeals by CBI and ED against acquittals in the 2G spectrum allocation case, expressing displeasure over adjournment requests. The case involves former telecom minister A Raja and business entities. Learn about the proceedings and details of the case.

TRENDING NEWS

sc-hints-at-pan-india-guidelines-on-timeline-to-frame-charges
Trending Judiciary
SC hints at pan-India guidelines on timeline to frame charges

SC mulls pan-India guidelines to curb delays in framing charges; notes cases where charges aren’t framed even after years despite BNSS mandate of 60 days.

30 October, 2025 12:22 PM
limitation-for-continuous-breach-runs-only-till-contract-expiry-kerala-hc-clarifies
Trending Judiciary
Limitation for Continuous Breach Runs Only Till Contract Expiry: Kerala High Court Clarifies [Read Judgment]

Kerala HC clarifies that for continuous breach of contract, limitation under Article 55 starts when breach ceases; once contract ends, breach cannot continue.

30 October, 2025 01:37 PM

TOP STORIES

sc-quashes-uapa-arrests-holds-remand-courts-explanation-cannot-replace-written-grounds-of-arrest
Trending Judiciary
SC Quashes UAPA Arrests, Holds Remand Court’s Explanation Cannot Replace Written Grounds Of Arrest [Read Order]

Supreme Court quashes UAPA arrests, ruling that remand court’s explanation cannot substitute the mandatory written grounds of arrest.

25 October, 2025 11:10 AM
ngt-orders-probe-into-illegal-tree-felling-in-delhis-civil-lines-directs-action-within-three-months
Trending Environment
NGT Orders Probe into Illegal Tree Felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines, Directs Action Within Three Months [Read Order]

NGT directs Tree Officer to probe illegal tree felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines and take action under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.

25 October, 2025 11:28 AM
gauhati-hc-quashes-fir-against-cnn-news18-anchor-akansha-swarup-over-kamakhya-temple-remarks
Trending CelebStreet
Gauhati HC Quashes FIR Against CNN-News18 Anchor Akansha Swarup Over Kamakhya Temple Remarks [Read Order]

Gauhati HC quashes FIR against CNN-News18 anchor Akansha Swarup, ruling her Kamakhya Temple remarks were careless but lacked malicious intent.

25 October, 2025 11:43 AM
delhi-hc-upholds-divorce-on-cruelty-grounds-denies-alimony-to-financially-independent-wife
Trending Judiciary
Delhi HC Upholds Divorce On Cruelty Grounds, Denies Alimony To Financially Independent Wife [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC upholds divorce on cruelty grounds, denies alimony to IRTS officer wife, ruling that alimony is for need-based justice, not enrichment.

25 October, 2025 12:10 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email