IT is strange that at a time when the country was facing grave economic and financial challenges bordering virtual default, Parliament adopted ‘The Chairman Senate (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 2023’ envisaging unprecedented perks and privileges for serving, future and retired Senate Chairmen. This makes incumbent and former holders of this office the most privileged ones.
Such is the elaborate nature of the perks and privileges that it required nine pages to enlist them and the fuller nature of this self-serving exercise on the part of the parliamentarians would be known when details are available about perks and privileges for members of the upper house as contained in another bill. The act entitles every chairman to get for life 12 employees and six guards permanently and VVIP security wherever he goes; can requisition airplane for self, family and children for domestic and international travel; discretionary grant of eight hundred thousand rupees or more per year; and unlimited medical facilities for self and family members. Apart from salary, they will be entitled to free telephone facility at residence, official residence, free furnishing at the cost of public money, free official vehicles for self and family, free petrol, sumptuary allowance, allowance on taking up and laying down the office, equipment allowance and TA/DA besides a number of other benefits as mentioned in the bill. While there can be no objection to a reasonable salary and perks and privileges like medical facilities, there is hardly any justification for extraordinary benefits at the cost of an almost empty kitty. That even the movers and supporters of the bill were guilty of conscience is evident from the fact that it was adopted in a hush hush manner. It is also ironic that the bill was unanimously adopted by the two houses in the presence of those who are considered to be men of principles and seasoned politicians. The President has been returning bills to Parliament and we hope this too would be sent back for a comprehensive review.
