J&K Amends Pension Rules for Former Legislators; Speaker Empowered to Sanction Benefits

JAMMU, Aug 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has amended the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members' Pension Rules, 1985, authorising the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to sanction pension and family pension for sitting and former Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), as well as former Members of the erstwhile Legislative Council. The amendment was notified by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members' Pension Act, 1984. According to the notification, the definition of "Presiding Officer" in the pension rules has been substituted, empowering the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to exercise the authority for sanctioning pension-related benefits. The amendment is aimed at streamlining the process of granting pension and family pension to eligible former legislators in the Union Territory.