Bhopal: The Congress government has stopped pension of more than two thousand MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) detainees. It is said that a total of 2,350 pensioners did not get their pension for the month of December.
The state government issued an order through General Administration Department (GAD) on December 29, 2018 saying that the Accountants General has laid objection on spending more than the prescribed budget for the scheme. Such situation makes filing reply for the government difficult and need arises to regularise the budget after getting approval from the state assembly.
The order also explains that to stop spending more than the budget this process needs to be revised. The order said that the process needs to be more accurate and transparent. Physical verification of the pensioners will also be conducted. Separate orders will be issued in this regard later, said the order.
The order clearly states that all collectors should inform the treasuries and banks not to release the honorarium till the process of regularisation is completed. BJP leader and MISA detainee Tapan Bhowmick said that the decision of government would be opposed everywhere- on roads and inside the assembly.
“The State government has issued a confusing order. Time limit for physical verification has not been mentioned in the order. If the government wants to stop this honorarium then it has to bring a bill in the assembly. We will also move court in this case,” said Bhowmick. Contd. on P10Media coordinator of Chief Minister, Narendra Saluja, clarified that the BJP is spreading confusion about the order.
The letter clearly states that objections have been raised by the AG office and therefore it is necessary to regulate it through the state assembly. The Shivraj government had introduced honorarium (pension) in 2008 those who protested against Emergency and were imprisoned. The Government of the day decided to provide Rs 3000 and Rs 6000 pension to the detainees in two categories. Later the pension was increased to Rs 10,000.
However, in 2017, a year ahead of assembly polls, the Shivraj government made some changes in the pension scheme and increased the pension to Rs 25,000. Further the condition of being in jail for 6 months was reduced to a month that was further reduced to a day.
