Clarify stand on independent mechanism to determine MPs' salary: Supreme Court to government

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to take an unequivocal stand on a 2006 suggestion to set up an independent panel to fix the salaries and allowances of MPs and MLAs. The move would eliminate all conflict of interest in elected lawmakers fixing their own salaries and allowances.

A PIL filed in court by NGO Lok Prahari has urged the court to direct the government to set up such a panel.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Jasti Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, are now dealing with it. The government has filed an affidavit before court responding to a court notice on the PIL, but that does not take any categorical stand on the suggestion.


Appearing before the bench, senior advocate Ajit Sinha sought a last opportunity to get back to the court on the suggestion. He did, however, say that the issue was “under consideration”.

Justice Chelameswar also ficmade adverse comments over the government’s failure to either accept or dismiss the suggestion. “We understand that government policies are dynamic. But can they change from day to day?” he asked.