A Bill was on Thursday introduced in Lok Sabha to provide free air travel for companions or relatives of ministers, a facility which only their family members got till now, on lines of the privilege enjoyed by MPs.
Home Minister P Chidambaram introduced the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2009, entitling Ministers to take along "any number of companions or relatives" by air at the same rates at which travelling allowances were payable to them and their family.
"A Minister shall be entitled to an amount equal to the fare for a single journey performed by him, during each year, within India, either alone or along with spouse or legitimate or step children, residing with and wholly dependent on him, or any number of companions or relatives, at the same rates at which travelling allowances is payable to such Minister, subject to a maximum of 48 such fares per year," it said.
Under the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Act, 1952, a Minister was entitled to travelling allowance in respect of not more than 12 return journeys performed, during each year, within India, for himself and his family, whether travelling together or separately, subject to overall entitlement of 48 single journeys each year. PTI
