Govt likely to double salary of president

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the presidential polls next month, the Union Cabinet is likely to consider a proposal on Thursday to double the salary of the first citizen to Rs 1 lakh per month and enhance post-retirement benefits.

The cabinet will also consider increasing emoluments of other constitutional functionaries like vice-president and governors, informed sources said.

The salary of president, which was fixed at Rs 10,000 in the Constitution, was gradually raised to Rs 50,000 a month in 1998 with effect from January 1, 1996.

Similarly, the salary of vice-president, who is also the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha, is proposed to be increased to Rs 85,000 per month from Rs 40,000 currently.

The governors, if the proposal is approved by the Cabinet, will take home Rs 75,000 per month as against Rs 36,000 currently. The Constitution had originally prescribed a monthly salary of Rs 5,500 per month for governors in the Second Schedule of the Constitution.

The government is also likely to allow former presidents and the spouse of the deceased to retain a bungalow in the capital.

The increase in emoluments of president, vice-president and governors would also entail a similar increase in emoluments of other constitutional functionaries like chief justices of Supreme Court and High Courts and other judges.

Doubling the salary of high constitutional functionaries will also have implications for government employees, whose emoluments are being revised by the Sixth Pay Commission. The pay panel is scheduled to submit its report to the government in April next year.