SC 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 E S Abdul Nazeer said it would hear the matter in detail and also 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 think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms that it be made a party to the case and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by NGO 'Lok Prahari' against the Allahabad High Court order dismissing its plea alleging that pension and other perks being given to MPs even after demitting office are contrary to Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution. The plea also said that Parliament has no power to provide for pensionary benefits to lawmakers without making any law. Salaries, allowances and pension of the Members of Parliament Act, 1954 was enacted in pursuance of Article 106 of the Constitution.