Karnataka Assembly passes bill to cut salaries of legislature members by 30%
The Karnataka assembly on Tuesday (September 22) has passed a bill to reduce salaries and allowances of members of the state legislature by 30%
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka assembly passed a bill on Tuesday, September 22, to reduce salaries and allowances of members of the state legislature by 30 percent for a year.
The salaries of the members of the state legislature are being reduced to strengthen financial resources required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state expects to save somewhere between 16 crore rupees to 18 crore rupees.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said, “In the wake of COVID-19, we discussed with leaders of our party and also the opposition that as a gesture, ministers, MLAs and MLCs, heads of authorities, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker should agree to a 30 percent salary cut”.
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Appreciating the move, Arkalgud JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy demanded to know how the government-approved hike in salaries of judicial officers during the pandemic when the state was facing a financial crunch.
RT Ramaswamy alleged that judicial officers in Karnataka had on their own, hiked their salaries, and then the government gave its nod.
To this, Affairs minister Madhuswamy said he was not in a position to immediately give an answer as he did not have the facts. However, he assured Ramaswamy that he would gather the information and provide it to him.
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