Over five-fold increase in advance money for MLAs

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana assembly on Tuesday passed nine bills, including the Haryana State Legislature (prevention of disqualification) Amendment Bill and the Haryana Legislative Assembly (facilities to members) Amendment Bill, 2016.

The Haryana State Legislature (prevention of disqualification) Amendment Bill was necessitated in order to include the offices of government chief whip and leader of opposition in the Act, which provides certain offices of profit not to disqualify the holder for being elected as, or for being a member of the state legislature.

Indian National Lok Dal MLA Abhay Chautala is leader of Opposition while BJP MLA from Panchkula Gian Chand Gupta is party’schief whip.

The Haryana Legislative Assembly (facilities to members) Amendment Bill, 2016 was passed “keeping in view the rise in the cost of living.” The government has decided to increase the amount of advance money to MLAs from `1.75 lakh to up to a maximum of `10 lakh for major repairs, additions or alterations to the house, provided that outstanding principal amount towards House building advance is not more than `50 lakh.

Eight other bills were also passed by the House .