MLA takes 22 years to pay a bill of Rs. 1995
11 Jan, 2014The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that a number of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have not cleared their meager amount dues with the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation.
The reply to the application shows that many sitting and former members of central and state legislature availed the boarding and lodging facilities of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation but their bills are still lying pending. Such politicians include Pratibha Singh (MP and wife of Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh), former Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Mani Shankar Aiyar and former Union rural development minister Shanta Kumar. Other MPs in the defaulters’ list are Virender Kashyap, Rajan Sushant, Bimla Kashyap, Chander Kumar (former MP) and Suresh Bhardwaj (former MP).
The RTI reply also showed that one minister in the Himachal government paid his bill after 11 years while another state legislator took 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. years to pay a paltry amount of Rs. 1995.