Why over 140 state legislators have not received salaries for last three months

While the budget session of state legislature continues, many newly elected legislators are attending it without any pay, as they have still not furnished the details required by the treasury department to conduct the online transaction. Sources told mid-day that around 142 legislators have not received their salaries for the last three months.

According to principal secretary of state legislator Anant Kalse, the salaries have not been released under the order from the treasury department. Kalse said that every elected representative was asked to submit details like Permanent Account Number and bank account number for online payment of salary.

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"Those who did not give us details have not been paid salaries. We have paid all legislators who abide by the new regulations," he said. Until last year, legislators had to submit manual bills along with the form provided by the government. The treasury department would process salaries and after deducting income tax at source, would credit the amount to their bank accounts.

Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the government has been releasing the money every month. "We cannot interfere with the system started by the legislature. We release the amount every month." When mid-day asked a few members who have not received their salaries, they refused to comment on the issue, saying that it was an internal matter.