'Who will work?': Supreme Court rebukes states over 'freebie culture'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture adopted by several states, saying that it is essential to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.

The top court asked, "Will it not amount to an appeasing policy?"

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi lamented, "Most of the states in the country are revenue-deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies overlooking development…".

The court's oral observations came as it took note of a plea by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited which proposed to provide free electricity to all, irrespective of consumers' financial status.

Tamil Nadu's Assembly elections are expected to be held in April-May, 2026.

Considering the matter, the bench emphasized, it was understandable if states hand-hold the poor, but the nation's economic development gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution.

"What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of paying the electricity charges,'' the bench said.

The court said that states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, and electricity to all.

The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, mainly focus on doing two things, paying salaries and distributing such largesse.

"Without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing? Will it not amount to an appeasing policy," the bench asked Tamil Nadu's counsel.

The bench also wondered why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.

"The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening, then free cycle, then free electricity, then who will work, and then what will happen to the work culture," the bench asked.

The court finally issued notice to the Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm, which proposed to provide free electricity.

In its plea, the state's power distribution firm challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024. Senior advocate Gopal Subramanian appeared for petitioner TN Power Distribution Corporation and senior advocate P Wilson for TN Electricity Regulatory Commission.