Rajasthan passes bills hiking salaries of CM, MLAs, pension of ex-MLAs
Former chief ministers shall get for the remainder of their lives a government residence, a car that members of his family can also use, a telephone, and a staff of 10, including a driver.
The Rajasthan government on Wednesday increased the salary and allowances of the chief minister, ministers, legislators as well as the pension for former lawmakers.
The state assembly unanimously passed by voice vote the Rajasthan Minister’s Salaries (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017. The proposed increase in salaries is estimated to involve a recurring expenditure of about Rs 1.55 crore per annum.
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (officers and members emoluments and pension, amendment) Bill 2017 will involve an expenditure of Rs 17.45 crore.
Under the new provisions, the chief minister will now be entitled to a basic salary of Rs 55,000, which was earlier Rs 35,000.
Similarly, ministers will earn Rs 45,000 from Rs 30,000; state minister Rs 42,000 from Rs 27.000; and parliamentary secretaries Rs 40,000 from Rs 27,000.
The sumptuary allowance of the chief minister has been increased to Rs 55,000 and that of others in the ministry to around Rs 50,000.
The basic salary of an MLA has been increased to Rs 25,000 from Rs 15000; travel allowance Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh (annually); per month secretarial allowance Rs 30,000 from Rs 20,000; daily allowance Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,000; sumptuary allowance Rs 45,000 from Rs 30,000; and vehicle allowance Rs 30,000 from Rs 20,000.
The pension of ex-MLAs has been increased to Rs 25,000 from Rs 15,000.
“Looking to the present level of prices, the existing salary and sumptuary allowance payable appears to be inadequate. Under these circumstances, it has been considered expedite to increase the salary and sumptuary allowance…,” chief minister Vasundhara Raje is quoted as saying in the Bill for ministers salaries.
Former chief ministers shall get for the remainder of their lives a government residence, a car that members of his family can also use, a telephone, and a staff of 10, including a driver.
The facilities are available to former chief ministers, but through executive orders.
These were given constitutional sanctity when the assembly passed a bill on Wednesday, a decision that will cost the state exchequer a recurring expenditure of Rs 20 lakh a year.
The salaries amendment bill inserted two sections and the words “other facilities” into the 1956 Rajasthan Ministers’ Salaries Act.
The new section 7-BB is for facilities offered to former chief ministers who had served an uninterrupted five-year term. Section 11 makes the exception for existing former chief ministers.
Of the 11 former chief ministers, only Ashok Gehlot of the Congress is alive.
“Before the commencement of the act, shall continue to avail such facilities for the remainder of his life even if he has not served as the CM of Rajasthan for an uninterrupted term of five years,” the bill reads.