The Himachal Pradesh government has revoked its April 18 decision to defer a portion of the salaries of ministers and legislators. However, the temporary deferment of 50% of the chief minister's salary will continue until further orders.
Withdrawal of Salary Deferment
As per the notification issued on Wednesday, the 30% salary deferment imposed on the deputy chief minister, members of the council of ministers, the speaker and the deputy speaker of the legislative assembly has been withdrawn with immediate effect. The government has also restored the 20% salary deferment applicable to members of the legislative assembly (MLAs).
Release of Deferred Amount
The deferred amount accumulated over the past months will be released along with the salary for June, which will be paid in July. This move comes as a relief for the elected representatives who had been facing salary cuts due to the state's financial constraints.
Background of the Decision
The salary deferment had been introduced for six months through a notification issued on April 18 following chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's budget announcement, citing financial constraints faced by the hill state. The decision was part of austerity measures to manage the state's finances.
While the deferment for most has been lifted, the chief minister's salary will continue to be cut by half until further orders, reflecting the government's ongoing commitment to fiscal discipline.
