Whether a High Court can compel a state government to adopt a uniform policy when the state claims it has unfettered discretion to choose its own policy course on a subject within its legislative domain.
Aaj ki debate ka motion yeh hai: 'State Government Has Absolute Discretion To Choose Its Own Policy Course' — yani kya kisi rajya sarkar ko apni neeti chunne mein poora swatantra adhikar hai, ya uski bhi seemayein hain? Yeh ek atyant mahatvapurna sawaal hai jo hamari federal vyavastha aur nagarikon ke adhikaron ko seedha prabhavit karta hai — to aiye, is par gehri behas karein. Main Counsel Aarav se nivedan karungi ki woh apna paksh prastut karein.
My lord, main yeh clearly kehna chahta hoon ki ek State Government ko apne policy course chunne ka — chahey woh welfare schemes hon, taxation ho, ya infrastructure allocation ho — poora adhikar hai, kyunki federalism ka mool tatva yahi hai ki har State apni local zarooraton ko samajhta hai aur unke hisaab se kaam karta hai. Judicial ya central interference tab tak justified nahi hoti jab tak koi fundamental right ka spasht ulanghan na ho — sirf ek alag policy choice hona ulanghan nahi hoti. Isliye main daawe ke saath kehta hoon ki State Government ko is discretion mein rukawat dalna nahi chahiye.
My Lord, paksh ne 'absolute discretion' ki baat ki — lekin yeh shabd hi apne aap mein ek constitutional virodhabhash hai. Koi bhi State Government apni policy ko samvidhan ke mukhya dhaaraon se upar nahi rakh sakti — na Fundamental Rights se, na Directive Principles se, na judicial review se. Main yeh maanti hoon ki State ko policy choice ka adhikar hai, lekin 'absolute' ka dawa karna ek khuli galti hai — aur isi galti ko aaj main is sabha ke saamne expose karungi.
My lord, vipaksh yeh kehna chahta hai ki State ki policy discretion absolute hai — lekin 'absolute discretion' ka matlab anarchy nahi hota. Agar State ko sachchi nirankush chhoot de di jaaye, to phir Constitutional provisions jaise Fundamental Rights aur Directive Principles ka koi mahatva hi nahi bachega — State kisi bhi naagrik ka haq kuchal kar policy bana sakta hai. Main yahan koi specific authority cite nahi kar sakta kyunki koi authority supply nahi ki gayi, lekin is proposition ka seedha jawab hai: 'absolute discretion' ek oxymoron hai jab tak Constitution ki supremacy kaayam hai — no State, however powerful, can override the grundnorm.
My Lord, paksh ne 'discretion' ko 'absolute' kehkar jo takiya banaya hai, woh Constitution ki buniyad se hi tutt jaata hai — kyunki koi bhi State power, chahe kitni bhi legislative ya executive ho, fundamental rights aur constitutional morality ke antargat hi chalti hai, aur yeh principle sirf main nahi, Constitution ki aatma kehti hai. Aur jab koi authority is turn ke liye supply nahi ki gayi, to bhi main imaandari se kehna chahti hoon ki 'absolute discretion' ka daawa khud apne aap mein ek fallacy hai — kyunki jo power accountable nahin, woh discretion nahi, woh arbitrary rule hai. Isliye, My Lord, vipaksh ka stand bilkul spasht hai: State ko niti chunne ki swatantrata hai, lekin woh swatantrata kabhi 'absolute' nahi ho sakti — aur is motion ko is Bench ko reject karna chahiye.
Aaj ki is debate mein humne ek bahut important constitutional sawaal explore kiya — kya State Government ko apni policy choose karne mein poori aazadi hai, ya uske upar bhi kuch constitutional zimmedari aur seemaen hain? Ek taraf ka kehna tha ki federalism aur democratic mandate ke tahat State ko apni neetiyan banane ka poora haq hai, jabki doosri taraf ne bataya ki yeh discretion 'absolute' nahi ho sakti — constitutional provisions, fundamental rights, aur judicial review ki seemaen hamesha laagu rehti hain. Main koi verdict nahi sunaungi, lekin ek balanced legal suggestion zaroor dungi: State Governments ko policy-making mein broad discretion milni chahiye — yeh unka democratic haq hai — lekin is discretion ka istemal constitutional maryada, citizens ke adhikaron, aur public accountability ke daayare mein hona chahiye, 'absolute' nahi. Ab main citizens se nivedan karungi ki aaj ki is debate ko rate karein aur apna nazar rakhein!