Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has lost his Lok Sabha seat on Friday after he was convicted over his ‘Modi surname’ remark. He was sentenced to a two-year term on Thursday by a local court in Gujarat over a criminal defamation case.
The Lok Sabha secretariat said in a notification that he has been disqualified from the day of the conviction under the Constitution’s Article 102(1)(e) read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act.
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According to parliamentary rules, Union legislators lose their seat if convicted of a crime for two or more years in prison. Similarly, they cannot continue to enjoy certain benefits, that are otherwise, given to them as a Member of Parliament.
Check out benefits a Member of Parliament enjoys:
- An MP is entitled to a licence-fee free accommodation or a hostel facility throughout their term. They can also avail a bunglow-type accommodation after paying the normal licence fee. The allotment of residences is made by the Accommodation Sub-Committee based on a set criteria. Water and electricity bills are exempted up to a certain limit. Furniture within monetary limits, periodic washing of sofa covers and curtains and remission in rents for improvements or additions are some of the other residential facilities.
- According to Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2010, they get a monthly salary of ₹50,000. They also receive ₹2,000 as daily allowance to attend Parliament sessions.
- They also receive a constituency allowance of ₹45,000 per month.
- MPs get travel allowances to conduct businesses related to their duties including travel to attend a session. For instance, they get one executive class or first class AC pass by train, one and one-fourth air fare of any airline and ₹16 per kilometre of travel by road. A total of 34 single air travels per year are allowed to each member along with their relatives.
- They also get ₹45,000 per month as office expense, including ₹15,000 for stationary and postage expenses. The allowance could be utilised to pay the wages of secretarial assistants.
- Members pay ₹500 every month to avail free medical treatment for them and their families.