Supreme Court notice to Centre, EC on plea for scrapping pension to MPs

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the constitutional validity of laws granting pension and other perks to retired MPs and sought responses from the Centre and Election Commission of India on the issue.

A Bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and ES Abdul Nazeer issued notices to the Secretary General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the plea filed by an NGO seeking scrapping of pension and other perks to MPs.

The apex court also allowed the plea of Delhi-based thinktank, Association for Democratic Reforms, that it be made a party to the case and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.

"Salaries, allowances and pension of the Members of Parliament Act, 1954 was enacted in pursuance of Article 106 of the Constitution. The Legislature through amendments made to the salaries, allowances and pension of the Members of Parliament Act, 1954, has legislated to provide for pension and other facilities to the former members of the Parliament including their spouses, dependents and companions.

"Article 106 does not permit provision for pension or facilities to persons other than MPs. The following said provisions of the Act are ultra vires of the provisions of Article 106 of the Constitution," the NGO said.