TEXT :
14.58 hrs.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Chinta Mohan - Not present

Prof. Saifuddin Soz - Not present

Shri P.C. Thomas - Not present.

Shri P.R. Kumaramangalam

THE MINISTER OF POWER, MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (SHRI P.R. KUMARAMANGALAM): Respected Mr.Chairman, Sir, I beg to* move:

"That the Bill further to amend the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, be taken into consideration."

The main provisions of the Bill are as under:-

At present, the Members of Parliament are eligible to undertake 32 single air-journeys in a year. During such journeys, they can be accompanied by a spouse or a companion. There has been a demand supported by the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament to dispense with the restriction with regard to a spouse or a companion thereby enabling Members of Parliament to take any number of relatives or companions with them on such journeys. We have made the provision in the Bill to enable Members of Parliament to take with them any number of relatives or companions on such journeys within the ceiling of 32 single air journeys in a year. So, the over all ceiling limit will remain.

According to the present provision, Members of Parliament are entitled to travel only in AC Ist Class if no person accompanies the Members in AC 2 tier and by adjustment of the amount of AC 2 tier for such journey in lieu of the companion. While the spouse of a Member of Parliament is entitled to travel by AC-Ist class or executive class in all railway trains from the usual place of residence of the MP to Delhi and back without any restriction on the number of journeys.

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* Moved with the recommendation of the President.

15.00 hrs.

Taking into consideration the difficulties expressed by Members of Parliament, it is proposed to relax the provisions to enable the Members of Parliament and their spouses only to travel by AC Ist class from any place in India to any other place in India without any restrictions.

In accordance with the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 1998, the minimum pension to ex-MPs was enhanced to Rs.2500 per month with effect from 20.8.1998. This amendment did not cover those ex-MPs who had completed two terms of Lok Sabha and Members of Provisional Parliament. It is now proposed to cover these two categories for grant of minimum pension of Rs.2500 per month with effect from the same date, that is, 20.8.1998.

There was a demand from Members of Eighth Lok Sabha from Punjab State, where the elections could not be held alongwith general elections and were delayed by approximately nine months, to count this period towards pension purposes. It is proposed to allow counting of such period for grant of pension where the elections could not be held in any parliamentary constituency or part thereof alongwith general elections due to terrorism, insurgency or public order problem. This provision would be effective retrospectively.

Former Members of Parliament had been availing free rail travel facility in air-conditioned two-tier class alongwith one companion in Indian Railways on the basis of executive instructions issued by the Ministry of Railways. This facility was annulled by Allahabad High Court declaring it as illegal. Keeping in view the difficulties experienced by ex-MPs to provide services to the people, this facility was restored by promulgating the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 with effect from 18.1.1999. The provision contained in the said ordinance is being replaced by the legislation included in this Bill.

The Bill incorporates decision for fulfilment of the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Salary and Allowances of Members of Parliament and the demands of Members of Parliament from time to time. I hope the House would give its unanimous support and pass it without much of a discussion.

With these few words, I commend the Bill for the consideration of this august House.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Motion moved:

"That the Bill further to amend the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, be taken into consideration."

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): Sir, I am on a point of order.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please quote the rule under which you are raising the point of order.

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : Normally, ordinances are promulgated only on emergency situations. The point here is that even for the sake of enhancement of Members' salaries and allowances, ordinance has been promulgated.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please quote the rule.

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : I may be permitted to say that ordinances are issued for meeting the contingency when the House is not in Session. But here is a case when the Government is resorting to promulgation of ordinance even for the purpose of enhancing the salaries and allowances of Members. It is ridiculous and this will tell upon the people. This is involving our prestige issue.

SHRI P.R. KUMARAMANGALAM: I may clarify the point, Sir...(Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please hear him. Please resume your seat. The Minister is replying to your point.

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : They are promulgating an ordinance for raising allowances.

SHRI P.R. KUMARAMANGALAM: Sir, we have not issued the ordinance with regard to salaries and allowances. It was only for ex-MPs where the court had passed a judgement allowing it with immediate effect because there was no other way...(Interruptions)

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : That is for ex-MPs. Here, why should you bring an ordinance for salaries and allowances of MPs?

SHRI P.R. KUMARAMANGALAM: The ordinance was only with regard to ex-MPs...(Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: He has answered your point. Please resume your seat now.

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN : It looks very awkward and it is ridiculous. Even for enhancing the salaries and allowances, they are doing like this. I do not like this.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Rajo Singh.

... (´ªÉ´ÉvÉÉxÉ)