National
Spell out stand on MPs’ salaries, allowances: SC to Centre (Lead)
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a “last opportunity” to the Central government to spell out its stand on setting up a permanent mechanism for determining sitting parliamentarians’ salaries and allowances.
Giving a week’s time to the Central government, a bench of Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the affidavit filed on September 1, 2017 has not made its position clear.
“The Indian government’s policy is dynamic. However, you can’t change it every day,” Justice Chelameswar told senior counsel Ajit Sinha, who appearing for the Centre, said the issue was under the government’s consideration.
“You have not stated your position. Your affidavit in September was not clear about permanent mechanism. When are you going to do it,” Justice Kaul asked as Sinha sought a week, for the last time, for the Centre to firm up its stand.
“What is the government’s view on it? You want it or don’t want it? Your counter-affidavit (response) does not disclose anything.”
Apparently not happy about the dilly-dallying by the Centre on the issue, the court said “you may not have a last word, but you may have a last opportunity” to state your position.
Appearing for NGO Lok Prahari, its General Secretary S.N. Shukla said that it has been 11 years since all parties in a meeting convened by the Lok Sabha Speaker unanimously decided to have a mechanism for fixing the salaries and allowances of the MPs but nothing has moved so far.
The court asked Shukla to let the things rest at where they are as he urged it to call for the file dealing with the issue.
The NGO has told the court that the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament in its report submitted in May 2006 too had recommended the sitting up of a permanent mechanism for the purpose.
Lok Prahari has said that lifetime pension to ex-members of parliament is not mandated by the Constitution and was in gross violation of Article 106 which does not talk about former members.
Article 106 says: “Members of either House of Parliament shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament by law…”
The NGO approached the top court challenging the Allahabad High Court order of April 20, 2016, by which its Lucknow bench junked its plea holding that it lacked merit.
While seeking to put in place a permanent mechanism, the NGO has sought the withdrawal of lifetime pension to former MPs, citing US politician and Secretary of the Interior from 1913-20 Franklin Knight Lane, who said that a public office is not a job but an opportunity for doing something for the public.
The existing scenario was a glaring example of how the public representatives have converted the position of MP/MLA/MLC into an office of profit for life for themselves and their spouses, it said.
While the Governor does not have pension facility, an MP, even for a day, gets pension for entire life, it said.
The matter will come up for further hearing on March 5.
–IANS
pk/him/vd
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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