On the penultimate day of the Karnataka Budget Session, a Bill to raise the MlAs’ salaries by nearly 100 per cent was passed by a voice vote on Monday. The Karnataka legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill was moved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Assembly.

While the Chief Minister’s salary has been hiked to Rs50,000 from Rs30,000 per month, the salary of other Ministers has been increased to Rs40,000 from Rs25,000 per month. The salary of legislators have been increase from Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 per mensem. The allowances for both the CM and the Ministers have been increased from Rs1.5 lakh to Rs3 lakh per month.

There is considerable increase in other allowances, including conveyance and house. The salaries of legislative Council Chairman and legislative Assembly Speaker were also hiked. While Chairman’s salary will be Rs50,000 per month and sumptuary allowance will be Rs3 lakh per month, the Speaker’s salary has been increased to Rs50,000 per month and sumptuary allowance to Rs3 lakh.

The Speaker, who is entitled to a house rent allowance, is also entitled for an allowance of Rs25,000 per month for maintenance and upkeep of the residence. By increasing salaries, pension and allowance for legislatures, the Government will have to bear additional expenditure of Rs44 crore per annum.

The House also passed other Bills including the Karnataka Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill 2015, the Karnataka Stamp (Amendment) Bill 2015, The Karnataka Stamp (second Amendment) Bill 2015, The Karnataka Taxation laws (Amendment) Bill 2015 and The Karnataka Value Added tax (Amendment) Bill 2015.

This is the second hike in four years for the Karnataka lawmakers. It was in June 2011 during BJP Government then Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa hiked the salaries of all Assembly members.