The Arvind Kejriwal Government once again approved MlAs salary and allowances Bill 2016, giving 400 per cent hike in their salary and allowances in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday after the Centre returned the Bills passed by the Assembly earlier citing major procedural lapses.
Also, the Centre told the AAP Government to follow laid down procedures before tabling any Bill in the House.
Top sources told The Pioneer that three Bills pertaining to MlAs, Deputy Speaker and Speakers’ salary and allowances were passed by the Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday. The Delhi Government will now send the Bill to the Centre and if it is approved, then basic salaries of legislators will rise from current Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000 and their overall monthly package will be around Rs 2.1 lakh as against existing Rs 88,000.
According to sources, the AAP Government has decided to follow all norms pertaining to these Bills which are financial Bill. “Had the Government followed the procedures enumerated in the transaction of business rules, the Bill sent by the AAP Government pertaining to the MlAs Salary and Allowances Bill, would not have been returned by the MHA,” said source, adding that the AAP Government will have to start afresh.
If passed then, after every 12 months, their (MlAs) basic salary would be increased up to Rs 5,000 during each term of the Assembly. The Bill also proposes the increase in constituency allowance from Rs18,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. The MlA would be entitled to get Rs 25,000 per month as MlA’s constituency office rent and related utilities allowances. The said amount would be given to those whose offices are allotted by public agencies or their own residences. Besides, it also proposes Rs one lakh to be paid to each MlA for furnishing their constituency office for each term of office. They would be given Rs 60,000 as one time allowance for buying MlAs constituency office equipment for each term of office.
It would be pertinent to mention that the AAP Government had passed the MlAs salary and allowances Bills in the House of Delhi Assembly and send it to lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung for approval. The l-G has referred all 14 Bills, including MlAs salary Bills to the President through Union Home Ministry with his strong observations over procedural lapses, lack of proper vetting from the concerned departments and violation of Parliament Act as the AAP Government had tabled them in the House without seeking prior approval from the Centre.
Sources said after discussing the Bills in the Cabinet, there are indications that the Government would be sending some of these for prior approval to the l-G. The Bills approved by the Cabinet would be tabled at the House of Delhi again. After that, it would be sent to the l-G once again for approval. The l-G will send it again to Centre along with his comments.