Rs 17-cr mediclaim by legislators in 10 years

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, February 8

Despite the fact that the Punjab legislators are among the highest paid in the country, MLAs and ex-MLAs have claimed medical expenses of Rs 16.89 crore in the past 10 years. Information received under the RTI Act revealed that Rs 1.59 crore was claimed in the fiscal year 2019-20.

The state government, however, refused to provide details of each MLA or ex-MLA, claiming it was their personal matter.

In the past decade, former MLAs have claimed medical expenditures of Rs 10.68 crore, while incumbent MLAs claimed Rs 6.21 crore.

The ex-MLAs claimed medical expenses of Rs 1.29 crore in the year 2019-20, Rs 1.19 crore in 2018-19, Rs 1.2 crore in 2017-18, Rs 1.1 crore in 2016-17, Rs 99 lakh in 2015-16, Rs 99 lakh in 2014-15, Rs 1.1 crore in 2013-14, Rs 1.1 crore in 2012-13, Rs 75 lakh in 2011-12, and Rs 76 lakh in 2010-11.

The Deputy Secretary, Vidhan Sabha, said the information about illnesses for which bills were claimed could not be given as the bills were sent to the district treasury offices.

Notably, every person holding any office mentioned in Sub-Section (1) of Section 2 of the Punjab State Legislature Offices, Ministers and Members (Medical Facilities) Act, is entitled, for himself and his family, medical reimbursement as per the actual bills.