Srinagar, June 3 (KNS): Lawyers in the Valley have censured the demand of the state’s legislators for increasing their monthly salaries and threatened of protests if the government goes ahead with the proposal.
Bar Association, Pulwama, said that the demand of lawmakers unjustified and akin to stabbing the back of the common man.
“People in the state are still reeling under 2014 flood devastation, traders are yet to recover from the damage. Our SSA, ReT teachers and other educated youth get peanuts as salaries from the government,” Gul Muhammad, president Bar Association Pulwama told KNS.
He said that the lawyers’ body “strongly condemns” the proposal and warned that they will protest against it.
Cutting across party affiliation, all the legislators in the have demanded hike in their salaries by three times to touch Rs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel2.5 lakh per month.
They also demanded more than three-time increase in the constituency development fund to Rs. five crore from the current Rs. 1.5 crore as well as raise in the wages of their assistants.
These demands were raised by the legislators in both the Houses of the state legislature in the ongoing Budget session. If approved, it will be third hike in the salary of legislators in the past 10 years.
"We are paid a basic salary of Rs. 35,000 which is a meagre amount. There is a need to increase our salary as we have to cater to a large public and this amount is not enough in today's times," Monga said in LC. He got instant support from other members, including BJP and PDP. (KNS)