Hiking salaries of ministers and MLAs amidst severe financial crisis; report in six months, govt appoints commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government appointed a single-member commission to study the salary hike of MLAs and ministers in the state. This was decided by the cabinet convened here Wednesday morning. Justice C N Ramachandran was appointed as the commission and he has been asked to submit the report in six months.

The ministers and MLAs presently get a salary of Rs 90,000 and Rs 70,000. This includes the travel dearness allowance (TDA). The salaries of ministers and MLAs were hiked in Kerala in 2018. The salary of ministers was increased from Rs 55,012 to Rs 90,000 and that of MLAs from Rs 39,500 to Rs 70,000 as per the recommendation of the Justice James Committee in 2018. As per the recommendation of Justice James Committee then, the salary of ministers could be increased to Rs 1.43 lakh. However, the cabinet meeting fixed it to Rs 90,000. Meantime, another increase at a time when the state is facing a severe financial crisis could lead to major criticisms.