The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to reply to a petition filed against the lifetime pension and benefits enjoyed by members of Parliament and their spouses. The bench has also issued notices to the secretary generals of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, as well as to the Election Commission. The plea was filed by NGO Lok Prahari, reported IANS.

The petitioner has held that such a rule could not have been formed by the House. The plea argues that the provision was a violation of Article 106 of the Constitution, which says, “Members of either House of Parliament shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament by law...” The petitioner has argued that the Article 106 speaks about current lawmakers and not the ones who have retired.

The petition said the Salary and Allowances of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, did not have any such provision, which was introduced through an amendment in 2004. The NGO had wanted to know the procedure followed by the government to decide on the salaries and allowances of MPs. The petition pointed out that even governors do not enjoy such privileges. The plea was earlier set aside by the Allahabad High Court, which held that the petition lacked merit.