Bills moved to skirt SC order against bungalows to ex-UP CMs

With Supreme Court directing eviction of former chief ministers from state bungalows within two months, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday introduced two bills to facilitate their continuation in government accommodation for life.

The Uttar Pradesh Ministers (salaries, allowances and miscellaneous provisions)(Amendment) Bill, 2016 provides for this facility to former chief ministers for life.

“A government residence shall be alloted to a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, at his/her request, for his/her lifetime, on payment of such rent as may be determined from time to time by the Estate Department of the state government,” says the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill.

The bill was introduced after the apex court on August 1 directed six former UP chief ministers to vacate their official bungalows in Lucknow in two months and pay the rent at market rate for the period falling under unauthorised occupation.

The bill also revises salaries and allowances in view of price rise and escalation in cost of living.

It provides that the chief minister and ministers, minister of state with independent charge and minister of state will be entitled, throughout the term of their office, a salary of Rs 40,000 per month while the deputy minister will get a salary of Rs 35,000 per month.