Karnataka assembly building. (File photo)
The 224 legislators of Karnataka have just given themselves a hefty, over 50% hike. The combined annual cost to the exchequer will be Rs 37 crore - up from Rs 24 crore.
The bill was passed by the Karnataka assembly today. "The entire house has unanimously passed this bill," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose basic salary will go up from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000.
From now, the legislators will get Rs 1,40,000 in place of Rs 90,000 per month. For ex-MLAs allowance has gone up from Rs 25000 to Rs 40000.
The basic salary of the leader of the opposition will go up from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000.
"This is totally a misuse of power," the state's former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde told news agency ANI. "They (the legislators) are here to serve the people, not themselves."
Legislator NA Haris of Congress, however, said their last pay hike was in 2011.
"On one side, we expect MLAs to be honest, then we don't want to pay them... And it is the MLAs who have to pass the bill - who else can do it?" he said.
Earlier this month, Punjab legislators gave themselves a huge hike - the biggest went to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who, in place of Rs 50,000, will now be drawing Rs 1 lakh a month.