Lawmakers should desist from being liberal in fending themselves

Lawmakers should desist from being liberal in fending themselves

http://goo.gl/lrmsZY    Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Sunday, 14 August 2016 AT 03:03 PM IST

    

               

Uttar Pradesh government, Mayawati, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Rajnath Singh

The Supreme Court recently struck down a legislation of the Uttar Pradesh government providing spacious government accommodation for lifetime to former chief ministers of the state. Arguing during the the writ petition hearing, the Uttar Pradesh government counsel had defended the provision but the Supreme Court set aside the legal provision and has asked the former chief ministers to vacate the government accommodation and also pay due fees for the same. Not surprisingly, the beneficiaries of this special provisions belong to all political parties, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, Congress veteran and former governor Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Rajasthan governor and Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav.

The lawmakers had passed this legislation with total disregard for the people to whom they profess to represent and serve. This is the not for the first time the apex court has struck down the facilities and benefits accorded by the lawmakers to themselves. For the past few years, there have been debates on the social media over this topic, latest being the food served to the elected representatives at very cheap prices at the canteen in the Parliament House in New Delhi. The furore of people over this selfish attitude of the lawmakers led to slight revision of food prices although even now these prices continue to be enviable for the common masses.

Not to lag behind, last week Maharashtra legislators decided to give hefty pay perks for themselves while arguing that their wages cannot be lower than the government officers'.

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation members too have also sought over 500 per cent hike in their monthly wages. In keeping with his firm belief in values on social and political life, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared himself as the Pradhan Sevak of the people in the country.

All the elected representatives in the country, right from the gram panchayat level to the parliament levels, should also vow in a similar manner. Unfortunately the present scenario in the political sector does indicate that the reality is just the opposite.

The lawmakers at the state or national level are privileged to decide for themselves salary, allowances, various kinds of perks and also pension benefits. Notwithstanding the regular walkouts, din and repeated adjournments, the lawmakers belonging to all parties always arrive at a consensus on the issues related to liberally sanctioning themselves financial and other benefits. Strange it may sound but the Indian lawmakers constitute the only entity in the country who soon after their election become eligible for lifelong pension even if they do not complete their full term. The common people however have to slog for three decades to be eligible for the full pension benefits.

There have been many examples of veteran politicians whose integrity and selflessness was beyond suspect. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and former deputy prime minister YB Chavan are some of the politicians who despite serving on key positions for several years were not known for leaving behind huge wealth for their legal heirs.

In the present times too there are some politicians known for their clean image but their number has been fast dwindling. This is indeed a disturbing sign. It is good that we have the arm of the judiciary to check excesses by the lawmakers. But, the latter should restrain themselves in this regard and thus also improve their image in the mind of the people who they represent.