Cuttack, Jan. 4: As MLAs in Orissa wait for a hike in their salaries and perks on the basis of the recommendation of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, another petition seeking judicial intervention against it has been filed in Orissa High Court.
The Democratic Lawyers’ Forum (DLF), a Bhubaneswar-based NGO, has filed a PIL challenging the state government’s decision accepting the proposal submitted by the committee recommending a four-fold increase in the salaries and allowances of MLAs from the current Rs 21, 950 to Rs 94,000.
Secretary of the forum Chakradhar Pradhan has asked the court to direct the state government not to hike the salaries and perks of MLAs based on the recommendation of any committee in the absence of any valid legislation passed by the Orissa Assembly.
“The proposed revision in the salaries and allowances of MLAs is uneven and not justified, especially when their counterparts in states like Kerala and West Bengal are getting Rs 20,300 and Rs 21,000 respectively,” the PIL contends, adding, “The proposal is quite high and exorbitant compared to the economic condition of the state.”
MLAs in the state have been pressing for a hike in their salary and perks as MPs started drawing three times more salary from August 2010.
Earlier Nishikanta Mishra, a member of the Orissa High Court Bar Association, had filed a similar petition contending that “the proposed hike in the salaries and other allowances of the members of the Orissa state Assembly is irrational and will have cascading effects on the fragile economy of state and life of its people”.
“Members of the legislative Assembly are not public servants of the state and are doing an honorary job for the benefit of the people. While a large section of the population are struggling to arrange two square meals a day, it is atrocious and against public interest to go for such a hike,” Mishra had stated in his petition.
DLF, on the other hand, has challenged the legality and authority of the state government to provide financial amenities to members of the Orissa legislative Assembly by virtue of rules and circulars issued by it.
