Ex-MLAs’ pension, perks cost exchequer Rs2.54 cr per month

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 11

The pension and perks of 286 former MLAs of Haryana are costing the exchequer Rs 2.54 crore every month. This was revealed in a reply to an RTI filed by a Karnal-based activist Shakti Singh, who has sought information regarding the pension being given to former MLAs along with the hike in salaries of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and MLAs. Besides, he has sought details of dues of building and car loan which are lying pending with the MLAs and former MLAs.

“As many as 286 former MLAs are getting Rs 2,54,46,000 as pension per month. Of them, 21 former MLAs are entitled to get more than Rs 1.5 lakh pension each per month,” said the reply.

“The new government employees are not entitled to pension benefits, but the MLAs are entitled to get pension. Moreover, multiple pension benefits are given to the MLAs if they are elected for more than one time. It should be stopped as the public representatives claim to come in politics for serving the society,” said Shakti Singh.

Information furnished by the Haryana Assembly in response to the RTI application has revealed that the salaries of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been hiked five times in 10 years. It was Rs 12,000 per month in 2006 and was raised to Rs 60,000 in 2016. At present, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are drawing Rs 60,000 each.

Similarly, the salary of the MLAs has also been hiked to four times in six years. Each MLA was given Rs 10,000 per month in 2010-2011, and it was raised to Rs 40,000 in 2016. At present, each MLA is getting Rs 40,000 per month, the reply added.

Calculations has further revealed that 33 former MLAs have taken advance of Rs 16,78,56,785 between 2014-2019, of which they have returned only Rs 6,94,22,668 while Rs 9,84,34,117 is lying pending. Similarly, nine MLAs have taken house advance of Rs 3.75 crore, of which Rs 1,67,51550 had been deposited back by them and Rs 2,07, 48450 was pending.

The details further said 100 MLAs and former MLAs had taken advance of Rs 13.80 crore for cars between January 1, 2014, to August 2020. A sum of Rs 9.28 crore had been recovered while the remaining was pending.

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