Fixing MPs’ salary

A section of the media has reported on the hefty hikes in salaries of our MPs and pension of exMPs on the basis of the recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee. The committee doubled the daily allowance of MPs for attending the House meeting, from R2,000 to R4,000. It would not be out of place to say that for almost every category of central government employees, pay commissions are constituted to review the salaries and emoluments of the employees. The Seventh Pay Commission constituted in 2014 has given its recommendations which have been implemented effective from first January 2016. Contrary to this, when the salary structure for our MPs is revised, the Bill is submitted, formally discussed and passed by raising the very same MPs by just a show of hands. We should remember that the last pay revision of MPs has been made in the year 2010 and the last revision of employees/pensioners was made effective from January 1, 2006. Undoubtedly, our Parliament is supreme and controls the finance of the country and whenever they are in one voice, they can take almost any decision—in this particular case, there is a provision under Article 106 as well as in the Second Schedule of the Constitution regarding the powers of the MPs to fix their own remuneration and emoluments. Our MPs should definitely be given a salary to live with dignity, but evaluating the propriety of and justification for raising their salary and perks demands that some mechanism other than the parliamentary committee is required to be evolved. There can be an independent panel covering the three wings of government, i.e., judiciary, executive and legislative, for the purpose of reviewing salaries. The Editor,The Financial Express, B1/B, Sector - 10, Noida - 201301. Distt: Gautam Budh Nagar (U.P.).or e-mail at: feletters@expressindia.com or fax at Delhi: 0120-4367933