New Delhi:
Former Lok Sabha Speakers may soon be entitled to similar facilities as former Vice Presidents. The Centre is moving a cabinet note to amend the Presiding Officer's Act.
If the law is amended, then former Speakers will get a house in Delhi, free vehicle, secretarial assistance business class travel within India and better medical facilities.They will, however, not be at par in protocol with former Vice Presidents.
The Centre's move comes after demands made by former Speakers like PA Sangma and Somnath Chatterjee.
The argument being put forward is that the Lok Sabha Speaker - placed sixth in the protocol list along with the Chief Justice of India - is the only constitutional authority who does not enjoy any special perquisites and facilities after the conclusion of term.
At present, former Speakers are entitled to benefits enjoyed by former MPs. Members of Parliament who complete a minimum of three years of their five-year term are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs.20,000. If the member has served for more than two terms, he is entitled to an additional pension of Rs.1,500 per month for every additional year he has served.
The MPs also get free train travel in two-tier air-conditioned coaches along with a companion or a first class air-conditioned travel when travelling alone, besides free healthcare under the central government health scheme (CGHS).
Former presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers get better facilities such as furnished accommodation, a private secretary, staff members, office expenses, a chauffer-driven car, telephone allowance, business class air travel.
If the changes to the Presiding Officer's Act are accepted, it may benefit former speakers Manohar Joshi, Shivraj Patil, Rabi Ray and Balram Jakhar, besides Mr Sangma and Mr Chatterjee.
Controversy after Uttarakhand Governor Qureshi's statement
This move comes at a time when the role of other constitutional functionaries- the Governors of states - has come into question again. This after the newly appointed Governor of Uttarakhand Aziz Qureshi said that he had Sonia Gandhi's blessing for his new assignment - a role in which he is expected to be impartial and non-partisan.
The latest list of Governors reads like a who's who of those who have been blessed by the Congress leadership- from the former SPG chief Mr Qureshi to Congress's old hand Margaret Alva.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We do not question the government's prerogative to appoint governors. But if the people who were in charge of security for a certain family is made governor then it shows the evaluation of these posts."
Brushing aside charges of favouritism, the Congress says it believes in "constitutional propreity." Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said, "even BJP appointed bureaucrats and governors. You didn't question them then. Why do you question now?"
If the law is amended, then former Speakers will get a house in Delhi, free vehicle, secretarial assistance business class travel within India and better medical facilities.They will, however, not be at par in protocol with former Vice Presidents.
The Centre's move comes after demands made by former Speakers like PA Sangma and Somnath Chatterjee.
The argument being put forward is that the Lok Sabha Speaker - placed sixth in the protocol list along with the Chief Justice of India - is the only constitutional authority who does not enjoy any special perquisites and facilities after the conclusion of term.
At present, former Speakers are entitled to benefits enjoyed by former MPs. Members of Parliament who complete a minimum of three years of their five-year term are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs.20,000. If the member has served for more than two terms, he is entitled to an additional pension of Rs.1,500 per month for every additional year he has served.
The MPs also get free train travel in two-tier air-conditioned coaches along with a companion or a first class air-conditioned travel when travelling alone, besides free healthcare under the central government health scheme (CGHS).
Former presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers get better facilities such as furnished accommodation, a private secretary, staff members, office expenses, a chauffer-driven car, telephone allowance, business class air travel.
If the changes to the Presiding Officer's Act are accepted, it may benefit former speakers Manohar Joshi, Shivraj Patil, Rabi Ray and Balram Jakhar, besides Mr Sangma and Mr Chatterjee.
Controversy after Uttarakhand Governor Qureshi's statement
This move comes at a time when the role of other constitutional functionaries- the Governors of states - has come into question again. This after the newly appointed Governor of Uttarakhand Aziz Qureshi said that he had Sonia Gandhi's blessing for his new assignment - a role in which he is expected to be impartial and non-partisan.
The latest list of Governors reads like a who's who of those who have been blessed by the Congress leadership- from the former SPG chief Mr Qureshi to Congress's old hand Margaret Alva.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We do not question the government's prerogative to appoint governors. But if the people who were in charge of security for a certain family is made governor then it shows the evaluation of these posts."
Brushing aside charges of favouritism, the Congress says it believes in "constitutional propreity." Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said, "even BJP appointed bureaucrats and governors. You didn't question them then. Why do you question now?"
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
