Delhi to re-send to Centre proposal for salary hike of MLAs

Delhi Government on Tuesday justified its decision seeking a hike in monthly salary of MLAs and Ministers and said it will send the proposal to the Centre again along with the clarifications sought on the matter.

The Home Ministry last month had returned the file to the city government raising objections to the proposal.

However, the Chief Minister's Office, in a statement said some "queries" have been raised by the Union Home Ministry about the proposal "which is quite usual".

"The clarifications to the queries raised by the Home Ministry would be sent at the earliest to enable the Central Government to ratify the proposal," the statement said.

Top officials had earlier said the Home Ministry had raised several questions over the proposal and asked why the salary of the MLAs was sought to be hiked as it was increased only in the year 2007.

The hike was proposed in August by the government after discussion with opposition BJP. The city government had proposed a hike in the range of 150 to 200 per cent for the legislators.

Justifying the proposal, government said salary and allowances of MLAs have not been reviewed after the significant increase in the salaries of employees following recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

"The inflationary pressure of prices coupled with the fact that the legislators of Delhi Assembly are not granted the accommodation and other facilities, has prompted the Government to move a proposal to provide some relief to the members," the statement said.

As per the proposal, an MLA, who currently gets nearly Rs 32,000 per month, including all incentives, will get around Rs 70,000. The salary of ministers, who now get around Rs 36,000 a month, had been sought to be increased to around Rs 90,000.