Explainer: Pension for Mr Dhankhar

Former Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar (74) recently re-applied for MLA pension from the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly secretariat, putting the spotlight on pension benefits and perks for former legislators.

Dhankhar, who resigned from the post of Vice President on July 21 citing health reasons, was an MLA from 1993 to 1998. He had won on a Congress ticket from the Kishangarh seat by defeating BJP’s Jagjeet Singh by 1,958 votes.

Dhankhar was the Lok Sabha MP of Janata Dal from Jhunjhunu from 1989 to 1991, and served as Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar government.

A lawyer by profession, he contested the 1991 Lok Sabha election from Ajmer on the Congress ticket but lost to BJP’s Rasa Singh Rawat.

He joined the BJP in 2003.

Dhankhar was getting MLA pension till 2019 when he was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal. He took over as Vice President in 2022.

He is entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 2 lakh as a former Vice President and Rs 31,000 as an ex-MP, besides the ex-MLA pension.

There is no bar on multiple pensions in the Vice President’s Pension Act and the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Act.

Under the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, if a person who is entitled to an ex-MP pension is also entitled to any other pension, then such a person shall be entitled to receive the ex-MP pension “in addition to such other pension”.

Governors are not entitled to pension.

Norms in Rajasthan

According to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Officers and Members Emoluments and Pension) Amendment Act, 2019, ex-MLAs get Rs 35,000 per month as pension. As Dhankhar has attained the age of 70 years, he will get an additional 20 per cent, taking the amount to at least Rs 42,000. The pension will be enhanced by 30 per cent upon turning 80.

Additionally, medical expenses are reimbursed and there is a provision for family pension. Ex-MLAs are also allowed reimbursement on travel in any class of railway, air, ship, or steamer, either alone or with people accompanying them, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per annum.

Provisions in Haryana

As per the Haryana Legislative Assembly (Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Act, 2018, monthly pension has been fixed at Rs 50,000. The dearness relief is equal to the rate admissible to post-2016 pensioners. Besides, a special travelling allowance is also allowed.

Benefits in Punjab

The Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Amendment Act, 2022, was brought when the AAP came to power in 2022. Ending the benefit for MLAs who had served more than one term, the Act fixed the pension at Rs 60,000 per month, plus dearness allowance as applicable to Punjab government pensioners. It retained the enhancement of pension on attainment of 65, 75 and 80 years by 5, 10 and 15 per cent of the basic pension, respectively.

What Himachal is proposing

According to the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2025, the pension of former MLAs will increase from Rs 36,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. Additionally, pension for the first term shall be increased every five years, commencing from April 1, 2030, based on the Cost of Living Index.

Medical facilities are also to be provided. The Bill is yet to receive the Governor’s assent.