The Hindu Business Line : Speaker favours independent body to decide on MPs' salaries

THE Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, on Friday favoured the constitution of an independent commission to study the issue relating to monetary compensation for Members of Parliament. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr Chatterjee said the commission could possibly have the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the RBI Governor as members. It would be a significant change from the earlier practice of the Government tabling a Bill that gets passed by the House, with or without changes.

Asked to comment on the live telecast issue, Mr Chatterjee said that people across the country were keen to watch Parliament proceedings but several cable operators tend to block the debate. He disagreed with the suggestion that some of the House members were playing to the gallery given the advantages of live telecast.

Referring to the recent issue relating to the Jharkhand vote-of-confidence, the Speaker said that the Supreme Court direction on the issue meant that it entered into arena that is the prerogative of the legislature. The Constitution of India is pretty clear on the matter and Constitutional experts like Mr Fali Nariman concur on this and favoured a Presidential reference.

On the Governor's role in Jharkhand, Mr Chatterjee said the Governor's actions actually created a very disturbing situation, which could have been avoided.

While referring to the invitation by the then president to Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee to form the Government, he said, that time too, the numbers were totally against Mr Vajpayee.

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