RTI reveals Rs. 1.32 crore claimed as medical reimbursement by Delhi MLA
29 Nov, 2013
An application was filed with the Delhi Assembly Secretariat under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details of the medical reimbursements and travel expenses claimed by the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Delhi between 2008 and 2013. The reply to the application has revealed that a maximum of Rs. 1.32 crores has been claimed by the MLA from Rohtas Nagar assembly constituency, Vipin Sharma. The reply states that the legislators are entitled to free medical treatment and accommodation in accordance with the medical attendance rules and the Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme (DGEHS).
Regarding the huge amount, the legislator said that he was seriously ill and had to spend seven months in London for his treatment, which made the expenses so high. Other high medical reimbursements have been claimed by Najafgarh MLA Bharat Singh (Rs. 27.5 lakhs) and Hari Nagar MLA Harsharan Singh Balli (17.4 lakhs). The lowest amount claimed for the five year period is Rs. 8,182 by Tilak Nagar MLA OP Babber.
The data about travel bills, provided in the reply, suggest that highest claim of Rs. 3.87 lakhs has been made by MLA from Shakur Basti Shyam Lal Garg for the past five years period. This is despite the fact that MLAs are entitled to reimbursement of expenditure up to Rs. 50,000 per year on travel within India for themselves and members of their family.