New Delhi: The Centre is all set to make changes to three laws, to give the President, vice-president and governors a pay hike to ensure they do not earn less than senior civil servants.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, under the new pay scales cleared by the government for the civil servants, the cabinet secretary will get a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh, a secretary to the government will get Rs 2.25 lakh and an additional secretary more than Rs 1.82 lakh. A joint secretary level officer will get a basic salary ranging between Rs 1.18 lakh and Rs 2.14 lakh per month.
The proposal for amendment in the three laws could reach the Union Cabinet as early as next week, says the report. Under the laws passed in 2008, the President is entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, the vice president Rs 1.25 lakh and governors Rs 1.1 lakh.
The change is essential as the President’s salary now falls below that of 14 officials of the government, said the report.
Like the civil servants, the pay hike for the President and others too would be effective retrospectively, from January 1 this year. This is irrespective of when Parliament approves the amendment. Laws regulating their pensions will also be revised accordingly.
Meanwhile, according to a report, a group of MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday seeking increase in salaries and allocation under Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
However, the Prime Minister was reportedly reluctant to accede to their demands. He instead suggested that they try to reduce their expenses.
The delegation of MPs also submitted a memorandum signed by 255 MPs of various parties to the Prime Minister. The delegation included some MPs of the BJP.
The Prime Minister was known to have been averse to the idea of MPs giving themselves a salary raise, putting a parliamentary panel's recommendation to double members' salaries and allowances earlier this year on the backburner. Instead, he was of the opinion that salaries of lawmakers be linked to a certain post.
The recommendations of a Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs to increase salary from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, and constituency and secretarial assistance allowance from Rs 45,000 to Rs 90,000 are yet to be approved.
