MPs for separate salary panel

Lok Sabha MPs today broadly agreed to set up an 8216;8216;independent body8217;8217; to recommend salaries of the members of Parliament....

Lok Sabha MPs today broadly agreed to set up an 8216;8216;independent body8217;8217; to recommend salaries of the members of Parliament. The consensus came at a meeting called by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to do away with the anomaly of MPs deciding their own pay packet.

The meeting was attended by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and BJP8217;s deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, among others. There was 8216;8216;broad consensus8217;8217; among the leaders that an independent authority 8212; on the lines of the Pay Commission and Public Wage Board 8212; be set up to suggest a hike in the salaries of Members of Parliament in future.

However, the 8216;8216;independent authority8217;8217; would have only recommendatory powers. The final decision would be taken by the government of the day on the basis of recommendations that would be made through a 8216;8216;scientific approach8217;8217;, taking into account price rise, inflation, etc.

Chatterjee is known to have suggested that a sub-committee could be formed to draft an amendment to the existing salary, allowances and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954.

The Act was last amended in 2001 during the NDA government8217;s tenure when the MPs gave themselves a salary hike. It was opposed only by the Left. At present, MPs earn a salary of Rs 12,000 besides bigger amounts as allowances and perks.

Before holding today8217;s meeting, sources said, the Lok Sabha Speaker held an informal discussion with Vice-President and Chairman of the

Rajya Sabha Bhairon Singh Shekhawat 8216;8216;who fully backed the move8217;8217;.

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As a follow-up, Rajya Sabha members would hold a meeting, separately or with Lok Sabha, to take a final decision on the structure of the 8216;8216;independent committee8217;8217; and the sub-committee.

Sources said while Advani whole-heartedly agreed to the proposal, a senior member from the government said in the meeting that the legislature was, perhaps, the only body that is 8216;8216;self-critical8217;8217; and has never shied from debating on itself. There was broad agreement that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the two secretary-generals of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha would be part of the commission.