The perks and privileges of former Chief Ministers of Jammuand Kashmir have been withdrawn thereby repealing the long list of privilegesenjoyed by former Chief Ministers since 1984.
According to a late evening notification issued yesterday,central government repealed section 3-C of the State Legislature Members’Pension Act, 1984 under which former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir wereentitled to different privileges and perks.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers were entitled torent-free furnished accommodation, expenditure to the limit of Rs 35,000 perannum for furnishing of the residential accommodation, free telephone calls upto the value of Rs 48,000 per annum, free electricity to the extent of Rs 1500per month ,car, petrol, medical facilities, driver etc.
This provision of law has been deleted through Jammu andKashmir Reorganization (adaptation of state laws) Order-2020.
It must be recalled that J&K Law Commission had alsorecommended repeal of the legal provisions providing facilities to former chiefMinisters holding such perks and privileges as saying violative ofconstitutional principles of equality as arbitrary, not in consonance with anyscheme or law.