NEW DELHI: New Delhi: In a stinging criticism of govts taking recourse to freebies, SC on Thursday said the distribution of largesse and direct bank transfer of money will encourage sloth that will be detrimental to nation-building.A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said states must instead invest in good schools, hospitals, training centres and job-creating projects to ensure dignified livelihoods.The comments came on a petition by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation challenging Rule 23 of the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2024, which enforces financial discipline on discoms and could hinder Tamil Nadu govt’s free or subsidised power schemes. The CJI said, “This is a pan-India problem, and we are not referring to TN alone. It is high time that political stalwarts, leaders and political parties irrespective of their ideologies along with social activists revisit such freebie schemes.“