Karnataka Assembly Passes Bill to Increase Salaries and Allowances for Legislators Amid Criticism
In a move that has sparked both debate and criticism, the Karnataka state Assembly on Friday passed the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Bill proposes significant salary hikes and allowances for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), ministers, and Assembly staffers.
This development comes at a time when the government has been facing complaints about a shortage of funds, raising concerns over the timing of such salary revisions. The Bill was passed amidst a growing uproar linked to the ongoing honey trap controversy, which has further fueled public discontent.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
According to sources, the amendment proposes the following major changes:
- Chief Minister’s Salary: A 100% hike of Rs 1.5 lakh, raising the salary from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh.
- Ministers’ Salary: A 108% hike of Rs 1.25 lakh, increasing the salary from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh.
- Legislators’ Salary: A 100% hike of Rs 80,000, increasing the salary from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000.
- Ministers’ Rental Allowance: The rental allowance for ministers has been doubled from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh.
- Speaker and Chairman Salaries: The monthly salary of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council will be raised from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh. Their allowances have also increased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approved the Bill on Thursday, and the state government, not wishing to delay the process any further, presented it in the legislature on Friday, the final day of the budget session.
Financial Implications:
The government is expected to incur an additional burden of Rs 62 crore annually due to the proposed salary and allowance hikes.
Pension and Travel Allowances:
In addition to the salary hikes, the Bill proposes a pension increase for legislators from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. The annual traveling allowance for legislators, which covers both flight and railway services, has also been raised from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3.50 lakh.
Context and Criticism:
The proposed amendments are significant, particularly given that the last revision of salaries and allowances for legislators took place in 2022. At that time, the BJP government had decided to review the salaries and perks of legislators every five years. While this amendment was presented in response to demands from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for a hike, it has stirred criticism, especially in light of the government’s financial constraints.
As public and political figures debate the appropriateness of such a hike amid ongoing fiscal concerns, the Bill continues to draw attention for its timing and its potential impact on the state’s budget.
