Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Salary increase

The Vice-President of India has no emoluments in “the capacity of Vice-President.” However, he receives emoluments in two capacities, one as the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and another as the Acting President of India.

Article 65(3) and Para 4 of the part A of Second Schedule must be read together — the result of which, according to Dr. Durga Das Basu in his “Introduction to the Constitution of India,” is that “until Parliament legislates on this subject, a Vice-President, while acting or discharging the functions of the President, shall receive the same emoluments and privileges and allowances as the President gets under Article 59(3). Since 1996, that emolument is a sum of Rs. 50,000 per mensem. When the Vice-President does not act as President, his only function is that of the Chairman, Council of States, under Article 97. By passing the Salaries and Allowances of the Officers of Parliament (Amendment) Act 1998, the salary of the “Chairman of the Council of States" has been raised to Rs. 40,000 per mensem, vide Act 26 of 1998 (w.e.f. 01-01-1996). He is entitled to daily allowance as admissible to Members of Parliament.”

How can the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, in its proposal of the ‘pay hike’ for the gubernatorial positions, ignore this Constitutional intricacy?

Shriram Mokkapati and Saibaba Kuravi,

Hyderabad

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