Supreme Court dismisses PIL against pension, benefits to former MPs https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-dismisses-pil-against-pension-benefits-to-former-mps/article23555126.ece/amp/
The Centre had on March 7 told the apex court that the entitlement of former Members of Parliament (MPs) to get pension and other benefits was “justified” as their dignity has to be maintained even after they complete their tenure as parliamentarians.The Centre had told the bench about the Finance Bill 2018, which contains provisions regarding salary and pension of MPs and also about revision of their allowances after every five years starting from April 1, 2023, on the basis of cost inflation index. The apex court had in February directed the Centre to clarify its stand on setting up of an independent mechanism for determination of salaries and allowances of MPs after the government had said the issue was “under consideration“.
'Contrary to Article 14'
An NGO ‘Lok Prahari’ has approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order dismissing its plea which had claimed that pension and other perks being given to MPs even after demitting office were contrary to Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution.
Petition Filed in Supreme Court Against Pension To Politicians
2018 Improvement Act
MPs should not get pension because politics is not a job or employment, but a free service. - Politics is an election under the Public Representation Act, there is no retirement, but they can be re-elected in the same situation again. (Currently they get pension, after 5 years of service).
One more disorder in this is that if a person has been a councilor first, then becomes a legislator and then becomes an MP, then he gets not one but three pensions.
This is a great betrayal with the citizens of the country who immediately have to ACT to stop this...
With the Central Pay Commission, salary allowance of MPs is being revised ....This should be brought under the income tax....
At present, MPs increase their salaries and allowances arbitrarily by voting for themselves and at that time all the parties are united.
MPs health care system should be discarded.. and health care like public health of India should take care of them like any other citizen.. Presently their treatment often is done abroad.. if they have to get it done abroad, they should get it done at their own expense.
All concessions to them, such as, electricity, water and phone bill should end. (They not only get many such concessions but they also increase them regularly) -
Criminals should be prevented from contesting elections, suspicious persons with punitive records, criminal charges and determination, past or present should be banned from the Parliament..
Financial losses caused by them, due to politicians in the office, should also be recovered from them, their nominees, properties - MPs should also follow the same rules applicable to common citizens.
No deduction on LPG gas subsidy by the citizens... unless the subsidies available to MPs and MLAs, & Other subsidies, including subsidized food in the Parliament canteen, are not withdrawn.
Serving in the Parliament is an honor, not a lucrative career for looting.
Free rail and airplane travel should stop.
Comments on WA: JD: I feel that politicians should get pension, but only to the extent that their other income does not cover it. Also all perks must be against audited expenses done in public service. The public service expenses should be extended to the runner up in each constituency. However the audit must be strict. Transparent and disclosed. We want to facilitate genuine public service, not 'free' service.
SS "Politicians", per se, don't receive any pension.
Members of (most?) state legislatures and the national parliament so get subject to serving some minimum term.They also get regular salaries (?), allowances and perks.
JD: If the politics is important, then the payment for it should be linked to genuine public activity. All payment and perks including direct payments to the politician and parties should be transparently audited. And a minimum survival and services related.. on similar lines as the mp fund should be provided. I was not saying that this is the rule at present, not do I think it is practical at the moment.. what I was suggesting was a principle, which we need to put out there for discussion... Most honest people will never aspire to be politicians under the current logic that politicians should work free, or take underhand money.
We have to show that politics can also make you an honest buck!!!