Mohali councillors want lifetime pension like MPs, MLAs

In a rare scene at the Mohali municipal corporation House meet, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and independent councillors passed an agenda without discussion or the usual opposition on Wednesday.

The agenda pertained to lifetime pension for all former councillors.

Mayor Kulwant Singh, the real estate magnate-turned-politician, took no time to pass the resolution. The matter was not even a part of the formal agenda and was proposed by RP Sharma, who represents Phase 6.

“Councillors keep serving the people even after completion of their term. People approach us with great hope. Therefore, even ex-councillors should get some remuneration,” said Sharma.

Before anybody could support or object to the argument, Kulwant Singh said: “If a parliamentarian and MLA can get pension, then why not a councillor? After all councillors are also public representatives. Let’s pass it.”

Big hurdle

However, getting pension is not that easy, as for it an amendment is required at the state level. However, despite knowing the fate of the resolution — given the number of development agendas already pending with the state department — none spoke against it in the House.

Councillor Kuljeet Singh Bedi said that it is for the government to take the final call. “The proposal of pension could only be fulfilled if the resolution passed by the House is accepted by the department of local bodies,” he said.

Another councillor, requesting anonymity, said, “When the local body department is not approving other agendas relating to public interest, I don’t think passing a resolution to start pension is advisable.”

“Whether we need pension or not is debatable. Passing the resolution without a deliberations was immature,” said another SAD councillor.

The Mohali MC House has 50 councillors. They get ₹15,000 monthly salary besides ₹2,000 as constituency allowance and ₹500 as meeting allowance.