New
Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to consider a proposal
to double the salary of the first citizen to Rs 1 lakh
per month and enhance post-retirement benefits.
The
cabinet will also consider increasing emoluments of other
constitutional functionaries like vice-president and governors,
informed sources said.
The
salary of the president, which was fixed at Rs10,000 in
the Constitution, was gradually raised to Rs50,000 a month
in 1998 with effect from January 1, 1996.
Similarly,
the salary of vice-president, who is also the ex-officio
chairman of Rajya Sabha, is proposed to be increased to
Rs85,000 per month from Rs40,000 currently.
The
governors, if the proposal is approved by the Cabinet,
will take home Rs75,000 per month as against Rs36,000
currently. The Constitution had originally prescribed
a monthly salary of Rs5,500 per month for governors in
the Second Schedule of the Constitution.
The
increase in emoluments of president, vice-president and
governors would also entail a similar increase in emoluments
of other constitutional functionaries like chief justices
of Supreme Court and High Courts and other judges.
Doubling
the salary of high constitutional functionaries will also
have implications for government employees, whose emoluments
are being revised by the Sixth Pay Commission. The pay
panel is scheduled to submit its report to the government
in April next year.
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