New Delhi: Delhi Government on Tuesday justified
its decision seeking a hike in monthly salary of MLAs and
Ministers and said it will send the proposal to the Centre
again along with the clarifications sought on the matter.
The Home Ministry last month had returned the file to the
city government raising objections to the proposal.
However, the Chief Minister`s Office, in a statement said
some "queries" have been raised by the Union Home Ministry
about the proposal "which is quite usual".
"The clarifications to the queries raised by the Home
Ministry would be sent at the earliest to enable the Central
Government to ratify the proposal," the statement said.
Top officials had earlier said the Home Ministry had
raised several questions over the proposal and asked why the
salary of the MLAs was sought to be hiked as it was increased
only in the year 2007.
The hike was proposed in August by the government after
discussion with opposition BJP. The city government had
proposed a hike in the range of 150 to 200 per cent for the
legislators.
Justifying the proposal, government said salary and
allowances of MLAs have not been reviewed after the
significant increase in the salaries of employees following
recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
"The inflationary pressure of prices coupled with the
fact that the legislators of Delhi Assembly are not granted
the accommodation and other facilities, has prompted the
Government to move a proposal to provide some relief to the
members," the statement said.
As per the proposal, an MLA, who currently gets nearly
Rs 32,000 per month, including all incentives, will get around
Rs 70,000. The salary of ministers, who now get around Rs
36,000 a month, had been sought to be increased to around Rs
90,000.
PTI
