From Rs 1.8 Lakh to Rs 3 Lakh: MLA pay hike hits political roadblock
CM says bills cannot pass without unanimity; pension bill for former legislators cleared by voice vote
BJP questions timing of Pay revision amid ’ regularisation demands
Srinagar | September 29: A proposed hike in the salaries and allowances of Jammu and Kashmir legislators and ministers ran into opposition in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, prompting the government to withdraw two bills after BJP members objected to the move.
A separate bill seeking amendments to the pension law for former legislators, however, was passed by voice vote with BJP members also supporting it.
The development came amid heated exchanges between treasury and opposition benches, with the BJP arguing that public resources should instead be focused on unemployment, daily wagers and employees awaiting regularisation.
The salary bills were based on recommendations made by a House committee constituted to examine the salaries, allowances and pensionary benefits of legislators.
The committee, headed by BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia, had recommended raising the total monthly emoluments of an MLA from around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
The proposed package included an increase in the basic salary from Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000, besides allowances for constituency conveyance, telephone, medical expenses, sumptuary expenditure and secretariat assistance.
The committee had also recommended an increase in the remuneration of personal assistants attached to MLAs and higher limits for housing loans and motor-car advances. The recommendations covered the remuneration of the Chief Minister, Speaker, ministers and Leader of the Opposition as well.
The proposed revision had been under discussion for several months, with the existing salary structure dating back to the previous revision in 2016.
When Chief Minister Omar Abdullah introduced the bill concerning the salaries of ministers and Ministers of State, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma opposed the move and urged the government to withdraw the legislation.
Sharma said legislators were facing public criticism over the proposed salary hike at a time when issues concerning unemployment, daily wagers and other employees remained unresolved.
He argued that the government should first address demands relating to regularisation of workers and employees, including those seeking risk allowance.
Responding to the objections, Omar Abdullah said he had anticipated that the salary issue would be politicised.
“I was smiling because I knew this would get politicised,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister maintained that the bills would not be passed without unanimity in the House. He said he would not proceed with the legislation if even one member opposed it.
“If even one member opposes it, it will never pass. I withdraw the bill,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah also questioned the BJP’s argument that the salary issue should be linked with the concerns of daily wagers. He pointed out that BJP members had been part of the committee that examined the issue and said no dissenting note had been submitted against its recommendations.
The Chief Minister further said that he had personally questioned the need for increasing the salaries and allowances of legislators but had agreed to introduce the bills following demands from members.
The controversy led to noisy exchanges inside the House, with members of the treasury and opposition benches trading arguments.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened and said there was little point in continuing the debate after the government had decided to withdraw the legislation.
The bills concerning the salaries and allowances of ministers and members of the J&K Legislature were subsequently withdrawn through a voice vote.
The proposed salary enhancement for serving legislators and ministers will therefore not take effect through the bills introduced on Tuesday.
The third legislation, seeking amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984, was treated separately and passed by voice vote.
BJP members also supported the pension legislation.
BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma said they demanded that the long-pending regularisation and job security grievances of thousands of daily wagers be addressed urgently before any consideration of legislator pay hikes.
“Government should first address issue of regularisation of daily wagers than hike in salaries of Legislators,” he added.
The proceedings marked a significant turn in the proposed revision of legislators’ remuneration. While the salary and allowance proposals failed to secure unanimous support in the House, the pension-related legislation received backing from both the treasury and opposition benches.
