Defector MLAs Will Not Get Pension: Himachal Pradesh Tables New Bill in Assembly

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced a bill in the State Assembly on Tuesday seeking to halt pension benefits for members disqualified under the anti-defection law.

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill 2024 stipulates, “A person shall not be entitled to a pension under the Act if they have been disqualified at any point under the tenth schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law)”.

Earlier this year, six Congress MLAs—Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar—were disqualified for defying a party whip by abstaining from voting during the passage of the 2024-25 budget and discussions on a cut motion. Sudhir Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal regained their seats through by-elections, the other four failed to get re-elected.