Parliament nod to bill for benefits to ex-governors

NEW DELHI: A bill seeking to provide secretarial staff and other benefits to former governors got the nod of the Parliament today.

Moving the Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Amendment, Bill, 2013 for passage, Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said keeping in view the high constitutional office that a governor holds, it is proposed to provide secretarial assistance to ex-governors.

Former governors at present do not get any pension or post-retirement benefits except medical facilities as per rules issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

V P Singh Badnore ( BJP) moved an amendment to the bill to replace secretarial assistance to personal assistance, which was rejected by voice vote.

The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in August last year. There are provisions that the person will not be eligible for such secretarial assistance for the period during which he is re-appointed to the office of governor or elected to Parliament or the state legislature or appointed to any office of profit under the Union or a state government.