Cabinet nod to enhancement of daily allowance of MLAs, MLCs today
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 20: Continuing to dole out largesse to the legislators, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has decided to increase by 100% the daily allowance of the Members of both the Houses of State Legislature and State Cabinet, which is meeting tomorrow, will put a seal of approval on the proposal of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in this regard.
Barely 20 days back, Government enormously hiked motor car advance, housing loan and travelling allowance of the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) by ignoring daily rated workers and employees who have been un-relentlessly fighting for regularization of their services, hike in honorarium and implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
Prior to this, the Government in the month of June 2016 had doubled the salaries and allowances of the Legislators keeping in view the price hike of all essential commodities and increase in the cost of living.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has moved a proposal, on the directions of the Government, for increasing the daily allowance being paid to the legislators for attending the session of the Legislature and meetings of different committees of both the Houses.
The proposal will be discussed and cleared by the Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tomorrow at Civil Secretariat here at 4 pm, they said, adding “the Cabinet approval is imperative as to increase the daily allowance of the legislators the Government is required to carry out amendment in the Salaries and Allowances of Members of J&K State Legislature Act”.
“At present the legislators are given Rs 1000 per day allowance for attending the Session of State Legislature and meetings of the committees of both the Houses but the Government wants to increase the same by 100% to Rs 2000 per sitting”, sources said, adding “it is not understandable as to how the Government can justify doling out of largesse to the legislators when it is not considering the demands of the daily wagers, casual workers and employees on the pretext of funds constraints”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that in the month of June last year the Government had doubled the salaries and allowances of legislators (both MLAs and MLCs) from Rs 80,000 per month to Rs 1,60,000 per month and also effected massive hike in the salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers and Ministers of State. By way of same order, the Government had increased the pension of former legislators from Rs 28,000 per month to Rs 50,000 per month, which too was close to 100% hike.
According to the sources, the Cabinet will also put seal of approval on the proposal regarding increase in the salary of Councilors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil.
The Councilors were left when the salary of Executive Councilors was brought at par with the MLAs and MLCs, sources said while disclosing that last hike in the salary of Councilors was made in February 2012 when it was increased from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 30,000 per month.
Since then the Councilors were pressing hard for justice but Government took more than five years to consider their demand, sources said, adding if there was price hike of essential commodities and increase in cost of the living for the legislators why it was not for the Councilors.
They further informed that Cabinet will also clear the proposal regarding establishment of J&K State Higher Education Council with Chief Minister as its Chairperson and Minister Incharge Higher Education as its Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chancellors of almost all the Universities of State and renowned academicians would be its members.
The Council will have the mandate to advise the Government for a comprehensive and holistic evolution of higher education sector. It will also suggest improvements in curriculum and syllabi in accordance with the changing societal and academic requirements.
The Cabinet will also give approval to the creation of posts of Additional Deputy Commissioners for Basohli, Billawar, Sopore, Tral and Bhaderwah. Keeping in view the demands of the people of these areas, the Government by way of an interim arrangement has already ordered upgradation of posts of SDMs of these areas to the level of Additional Deputy Commissioners.
The Cabinet will also reconsider the decision regarding increase in fees and taxes being levied on motor vehicles by the designated authorities under Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, sources said, adding recently an Ordinance was issued for amendments in Sections 3 and 4 of the J&K Motor Vehicles Taxation Act but Government wants to carry out further amendments for which Cabinet approval is being taken.
“The possibility of some transfers and postings in the Civil and Police Administration cannot be ruled out”, sources said.
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