The Delhi Assembly on Wednesday constituted a five-member committee to examine demands for revising MLAs’ salaries after legislators from both BJP and AAP raised the issue in the House, reported PTI.
Along with a salary revision, MLAs also sought an increase in the number of staff assigned for constituency-related work and a hike in remuneration for data entry operators.
The panel’s formation comes soon after the Centre announced a 24% salary hike for Members of Parliament, effective from April 1, 2023, based on the Cost Inflation Index. “Two issues were discussed by the House—one related to data entry operators and the other concerning an honorarium increase for MLAs in line with Parliament,” PTI quoted Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta as saying.
BJP Chief Whip Abhay Verma will lead the committee, which includes MLAs Surya Prakash Khatri, Poonam Sharma, Sajeev Jha, and Vishesh Ravi. The committee has been given two weeks to submit its report, with an option for an extension if needed.
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During the discussion, MLAs from both the ruling and opposition parties highlighted the need for a pay revision. AAP MLA Anil Jha pointed out that while MLAs hold a dignified status, their salaries and perks are lower than those of district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates in their constituencies. He also called for a respectable pension for former MLAs. Vishesh Ravi of AAP suggested that the Delhi government draft a proposal for salary revision and seek approval from the Centre. BJP MLA Kulwant Rana argued that Delhi MLAs should receive salaries comparable to those in states such as Goa and Jammu & Kashmir. BJP legislator Surya Prakash Khatri emphasised the need to increase the number of data entry operators assigned to MLAs from two to four and to adjust their pay in accordance with the skilled category under the Minimum Wages Act. His proposal was supported by members from both parties.
The last salary revision for Delhi MLAs took place in February 2023, when their pay increased from Rs 54,000 to Rs 90,000 per month. Salaries for the Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, and Leader of Opposition were raised from Rs 72,000 to Rs 1.7 lakh.
(With inputs from PTI)