Karnataka govt considers salary revision for legislators

Bengaluru

The Karnataka government is exploring the possibility of revising legislators' salaries through new legislation, State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said on Tuesday. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Legislative Assembly discussed the issue during its meeting on Monday.

Patil stated, "The matter was brought up in our BAC meeting, and opinions were shared. The government will consider these suggestions, and we may introduce legislation during this session." However, he clarified that no decision had been made regarding a 50% salary increase, adding, "It has been a long time since the last revision."

Regarding a proposal to allocate Rs 20 crore for a Constitution Club for legislators, Patil noted that the Speaker had raised the issue with the chief minister, who agreed to consider it.

State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy pointed out that some MLAs had requested a salary hike due to high travel costs. "MLAs have to travel frequently within their constituencies, and expenses are rising," he said. He also mentioned that he donates his entire salary to government schools. On whether wealthier MLAs should decline the hike, Reddy responded, "Not all MLAs are rich."