New Delhi: Former Members of Parliament are entitled to receive pension as ex-MPs even if they are getting pension as former MLAs or MLCs, according to an RTI reply.
According to information received from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat through the RTI application, the pension of former MPs is regulated under Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act 1954. According to the Act, a former MP getting any other pension is also entitled to receive pension as an ex-MP.
Members' Salary and Allowances Branch said the department does not keep any record of former MPs also receiving pension as former MLA or MLC. Central Pension Accounting Office of the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry said that they do not have any arrangement to find out which former MP is also availing pension and other facilities as a former MLA or MLC.
Meanwhile, replying to another RTI application, the government has said there is no proposal to end the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and no Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha member has submitted any request in this regard. In the reply, Statistical and Programme Implementation Ministry said, "No Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha MP has submitted any written request for ending MPLADS, though the Ministry is aware of the views expressed on the issue by some former and present MPs in the media."
The Ministry said on a writ petition filed in this regard, the Supreme Court on May 14, 2010 ruled that the MPLAD scheme is valid as per the Constitution. In accordance with the order of the Supreme Court, there is no proposal to end the scheme, the Ministry said.
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