The Delhi Assembly on March 26, 2025, formed a five-member committee to address the demands for revising the salaries of its Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). This committee was set up after both BJP and AAP legislators raised concerns about their low salaries and insufficient resources during a discussion in the Assembly. In addition to a salary hike, the MLAs also requested an increase in the number of staff allotted to them for constituency-related work and a revision of the remuneration for the data entry operators who assist them.

Committee Formation and Members

The committee will be headed by BJP Chief Whip Abhay Verma and will include MLAs Surya Prakash Khatri, Poonam Sharma, Sajeev Jha, and Vishesh Ravi. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks, though this timeline could be extended depending on the needs of the process. This development comes shortly after the Centre's announcement of a 24% salary hike for Members of Parliament, which will come into effect on April 1, 2023, based on the Cost Inflation Index (CII).

MLAs' Demand for Salary Hike

During the discussion, several MLAs, including those from both the treasury and opposition benches, expressed their dissatisfaction with the current pay structure, calling for an increase in their salaries. AAP legislator Anil Jha pointed out that despite being assigned a dignified status and protocol similar to senior officials like district magistrates and SDMs, their salaries were significantly lower than even those positions.

Current Salary and Allowances of Delhi MLAs

In February 2023, the salaries of Delhi MLAs were revised to reflect better compensation. Their basic monthly salary was raised from Rs 54,000 to Rs 90,000, and the constituency allowance was increased from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000. The conveyance allowance also went up from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, and the telephone allowance was revised from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Additionally, the secretariat allowance increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.

Salaries of Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers

The Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, chief whip, and the Leader of Opposition also saw an increase in their salaries and allowances in February 2023. Their basic salary was tripled, rising from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000. Their constituency allowance was increased from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000, and their sumptuary allowance went up from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000. Other revisions included a daily allowance increase from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 and Rs 25,000 as secretariat assistance.

Additional Benefits for Delhi Legislators

In addition to the salary and allowances, Delhi legislators are entitled to several other perks. These include:

• Reimbursement of annual travel with family up to Rs 1 lakh, previously Rs 50,000.

• Rent-free furnished accommodation valued at Rs 20,000 per month.

• Free use of car with a driver, or a monthly conveyance allowance of Rs 10,000 (up from Rs 2,000).

• Free medical treatment for legislators.

Context of the Salary Revision Demand

The discussion in the Delhi Assembly was sparked by the recent salary hike for Members of Parliament, which has further emphasized the perceived disparity between the salaries of MPs and Delhi MLAs. While the hike for MPs is based on the Cost Inflation Index, Delhi legislators are seeking similar adjustments for their roles, given the increasing responsibilities in their constituencies.

Conclusion

The formation of the five-member committee signals the Delhi Assembly’s commitment to addressing MLAs' concerns about their compensation. It remains to be seen whether the committee’s recommendations will lead to an increase in salary and staff resources for Delhi’s legislators. However, the current demands reflect a broader debate on the adequacy of compensation for public representatives, and how it aligns with their growing responsibilities in a modern governance structure. The committee’s report, expected in the coming weeks, will likely influence future discussions on legislative pay in Delhi and potentially set a precedent for other states.

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