Ministers' allowances bill sails through

The bill entitles ministers to travel along with any “number of companions or relatives” by air on the Government’s expenses, subject to 48 such fares per year. It brings the ministers on par with the MPs.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said that the Business Advisory Committee of the House had agreed to pass the bill without any debate.

The bill was earlier passed in the Lok Sabha on December 18.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal later told journalists that the bill did not contradict the ruling United Progressive Alliance’s principle of austerity.

Home Minister P Chidambaram, who piloted the bill in both the Houses, said that the bill would not put any additional burden on the Government.

“A minister shall be entitled to an amount equal to the fare for a single journey performed by him during each year, within India, either alone or along with spouse or legitimate or step children, residing with and wholly dependent on him, or any number of companions or relatives, at the same rates at which travelling allowances is payable to such Minister, subject to a maximum of 48 such fares per year,” the bill said.