High drama in J&K Assembly over hike in legislators salaries

Srinagar, Sep 29: High‑voltage drama unfolded in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over three bills seeking enhancement of salaries of the Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers and MLAs, as well as pension benefits for former legislators.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members unexpectedly opposed the bills when they were brought before the House, prompting the Chief Minister to seek withdrawal of two bills concerning ministers and MLAs.
As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the bill – The J&K Ministers and Ministers of State Salaries Act, 1956 – for consideration, he smiled, prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to remark that the smile “indicated something else.”
BJP members opposed the salary and allowances bills, with BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma urging the Chief Minister to withdraw all three. Sharma said the recommendations of the committee examining MLA salaries had been put in the public domain, causing humiliation to legislators. He argued that the proposed honorarium was not acceptable and suggested that the government should instead use resources to address the concerns of daily wagers and employees seeking regularisation, including those demanding risk allowance.
Responding to the objections, Omar said he had anticipated the issue would be politicised. “I was smiling because I knew this would get politicised,” he remarked. He added that if Sharma discussed the matter privately with BJP members, he would not find a single member opposed to it. “At least, I will not allow them to do politics over it. They will get salary and allowance hikes but would still say they are opposed to it,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister stressed that the bills could not be passed unless there was unanimity in the House. “If this bill is not passed unanimously, then it will be difficult for me to pass it,” he said, announcing withdrawal of the three bills.
As Mehraj Malik attempted to speak on the bill, the Speaker ruled that discussion could not continue since the Chief Minister had proposed withdrawal. Amid din in the House, NC MLA Javaid Baig said BJP MLAs were opposing the bill because they wanted salaries to be increased to Rs three lakh. “We will not allow them to do politics over it,” he added.
Omar further said that had BJP members been genuinely concerned about regularisation of daily wagers, Slathia – who headed the committee on MLA salaries – should have reflected that in the report. “Why was that not reflected in the report? How many BJP members were part of the committee? They want enhancement of salaries and allowances but simultaneously want to do politics over it. Had they been sincere about daily wagers, why didn’t they regularise them before 2024?” he asked.
He pointed out that no BJP member had submitted a dissenting note against the committee’s recommendations. “Nobody wrote a dissenting note. Nobody did,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister added that he was personally against the proposed increase and had repeatedly questioned its necessity, but agreed to introduce the bills due to demand from some MLAs. He reiterated that the legislation would not be passed if even one member opposed it.
The House then witnessed a noisy exchange, with members from the treasury benches and opposition trading heated arguments. The Speaker intervened, telling members there was no point in debating the matter as the bills had already been withdrawn.
The bills- The J&K Ministers’ and Ministers of State Salaries Act, 1956 and The Salaries and Allowances of Members of the J&K State Legislature Act, 1960- were withdrawn by voice vote. However, the bill seeking amendments to The J&K State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984 was passed by the House with voice vote, with BJP members also supporting it. (KNO)