Delhi Assembly sets up independent panel for MLAs' salary

In what is being claimed as marking a first, Delhi Assembly today set up an independent committee to recommend revision of the salaries and allowances of MLAs.
The independent panel set up by Delhi Assembly consists of experts who will undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of salary and allowances prevalent in the country and, accordingly, recommend a revision of legislators' pay.
An official said this is the first time that a committee has been constituted to look into the question of revision of the salaries and allowances of MLAs.
According to the official, the independent committee was set up as a result of a unanimous decision taken by the Assembly's Committee on Salary and Allowances on August 1 this year.

"This is a first-of-its-kind move in any legislative body in the country, where elected representatives voluntary leave it to an expert panel to decide on a revision of their pay and allowances though they are constitutionally and statutorily entitled to decide the pay revision for themselves.
"The members of the independent committee are former Secretary General of Lok Sabha, PDT Achary, Associate Editor (The Tribune), KV Prasad, Supreme Court advocate Balraj S Malik and Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara, the Secretary of Delhi Assembly," said Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.
According to the official, the committee will conduct a comprehensive study of the salary and allowance structures for elected representatives in various states and also in the legislatures of different countries.

Apart from giving its recommendation, the panel will also evolve a transparent and scientific mechanism for periodic revision of salary and allowances of legislators. The committee is expected to submit its report within 30 days.