Govt may go for independent mechanism on MPs' salaries

Seeking to make the exercise of pay revision of MPs a controversy-free affair, government plans to go in for an independent mechanism to work out their salary and allowances.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal told reporters that the government would explore ways to set up a permanent independent mechanism for which there was no need for a constitutional amendment.

Left parties have been demanding for long setting up of such a mechanism taking the plea that it was wrong that the MPs should decide on their own pay packets.

"I welcome the suggestion," he merely said when asked whether MPs, who would now be getting an enhanced pay package, should be penalised if their actions lead to loss time for Parliament.

He regretted that the Monsoon session witnessed the Lok Sabha losing 45 hours and the Rajya Sabha 35 hours due to disruptions.

Bansal said what is of particular concern was that the Question Hour could not be taken up for nine days following uproar created by opposition on various issues.

Observing that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari did try to work out some mechanism for the Question Hour to function, he said that the government was open to any change. "I hope the two Presiding Officers succeed in their efforts", he said.

Hitting out at the 'mock Parliament' held in the Lok Sabha chamber recently by some MPs, he said it was one of the "most unfortunate events taken place in the annuls of Parliament...I wish it did not happen." He also termed it as a "slur on Parliament of India".