NewKerala.com

Himachal MLAs, Ministers Take 6-Month Pay Cut Amid State Fiscal Crunch

The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh has approved a temporary six-month deferral of a portion of salaries for all public representatives. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu will see 50% of his salary deferred, while ministers and assembly speakers face a 30% cut, and all MLAs a 20% cut. The government clarified this is a deferral, not a permanent cut, and the amounts will be returned when finances improve. The decision, executed via notification from Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, follows the CM's earlier budget announcement.

Key Points: Himachal Govt Defers Salaries of CM, MLAs for 6 Months

  • 50% of CM's salary deferred
  • 30% cut for ministers, speakers
  • 20% cut for all MLAs
  • Deferment for six months only
2 min read

Fiscal crunch: Himachal CM, ministers, MLAs to take six-month pay cut​

Himachal Pradesh defers 20-50% of salaries for CM, ministers, and MLAs for six months as a temporary measure to address the state's financial challenges.

"This is not a permanent cut but only a temporary deferral. - State Government"

Shimla, April 18

Facing financial challenges, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday implemented a decision to temporarily defer a portion of the salaries of public representatives, comprising the Chief Minister, ministers, and lawmakers, for six months. Following the Governor's approval, the Chief Secretary issued a notification.​

Under this notification, 50 per cent of the Chief Minister's salary, 30 per cent of the salaries of the Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and 20 per cent of the salaries of all Members of the Legislative Assembly will be deferred for the next six months. ​

This decision was taken under Articles 162 and 166 of the Constitution.​

The government has also clarified that this is not a permanent cut but only a temporary deferral. This amount will be returned to public representatives in the future when the state's financial situation improves. ​

The government has clarified that the entire process will be transparent. ​

The e-salary system will display the full salary and the deferred portion separately. This will also be clearly stated on salary slips, providing employees and public representatives at all levels with clear information.​

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu announced the salary reduction in his Budget speech for the fiscal year 2026-27. ​

At that time, he had also indicated that salaries of senior officials (Class 1 and Class 2) would be deferred, but this decision was withdrawn on the occasion of Himachal Day, i.e., April 15.​

The notification issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta only mentions the deferment of salaries of public representatives. ​

The notification also clarifies that all statutory deductions, including income tax, will apply to the entire salary. ​

The deferred amount will be calculated based on the amount remaining after taxes and other deductions. This is to avoid any future accounting or tax complications.​

Special provisions have been made for public representatives who have taken a house-building advance or motor-car advance.​

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respect for taking this step. But I have a question - why was the decision for senior officials withdrawn on Himachal Day? Isn't austerity for all in a fiscal crunch? The burden should be shared more widely, not just by politicians.
R
Rohit P
Finally some accountability! Politicians enjoying all perks while states go bankrupt is an old story. This is a welcome change. Hope other states with financial troubles follow suit.
A
Anjali F
The transparency part is key. Separate display on e-salary and slips is good. But will the public have access to see where this deferred money is parked and how it's used later? That's the real test.
D
David E
Interesting move. The graded cut makes sense - CM takes the biggest hit. But six months is a long time. Hope the state's finances improve by then, otherwise what's the plan B?
K
Kavya N
As a Himachali, I appreciate this. Tourism took a hit last season and the state needs to tighten its belt. But this should be part of a larger plan to boost revenue and cut wasteful expenditure. Jai Himachal! 🇮🇳

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50