INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Court today dismissed a plea challenging the perks, including pension and travel allowances, given to former Parliamentarians.A bench of
Justice J Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul said, "The petition is dismissed".The bench had reserved its verdict on March 7 this year.The
Centre had on March 7 told the Supreme Court that the entitlement of former Members of Parliament (MPs) to get pension and other benefits
was "justified" as their dignity has to be maintained even after they complete their tenure as parliamentarians.The Centre had told the
bench about the Finance Bill 2018 which contains provisions regarding salary and pension of MPs and also about revision of their allowances
after every five years starting from April 1, 2023, on the basis of cost inflation index.The Supreme Court had in February directed the
Centre to clarify its stand on setting up of an independent mechanism for determination of salaries and allowances of MPs after the
government had said the issue was "under consideration".The top court had in March last year agreed to examine the constitutional validity
of laws granting pension and other perks to retired MPs and had sought responses from the Centre and ECI on the issue.An NGO 'Lok Prahari'
has approached the top court challenging the Allahabad High Court order dismissing its plea which had claimed that pension and other perks
being given to MPs even after demitting office were contrary to Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution.The plea has also said
