The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly saw the introduction of a significant amendment bill on Tuesday, aimed at curbing the pension benefits of members disqualified under the anti-defection law. The bill, titled the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill 2024, was presented by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
According to the proposed amendment, any member who has been disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law, will no longer be entitled to receive a pension under the 1971 Act. This move is seen as a measure to discourage defection among legislators, uphold the mandate of the electorate, and preserve democratic principles.
The impetus for this bill comes in the wake of the disqualification of six Congress MLAs—Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar—who were expelled in February this year for defying a party whip. The MLAs abstained from voting during the crucial passage of the budget for 2024-25 and discussions on a cut motion, leading to their disqualification under the anti-defection law.
While Sudhir Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal managed to regain their positions in the Assembly through bypoll victories, the remaining four MLAs were unsuccessful in their re-election efforts. These MLAs had previously supported BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha elections held on February 27, which further complicated their political standing.
The bill underscores the need to fill a gap in the 1971 Act, which currently lacks provisions to penalize members for defection. By introducing this amendment, the state government aims to deter legislators from engaging in actions that could be considered a betrayal of the public’s trust and to ensure that democratic values are upheld in the legislative process.
Sources By Agencies