Parliament Approves Bill for Free Air Travel to Ministers’ Friends, Relatives

Parliament has given nod to a bill that will allow ministers the facility of taking any number of companions or relatives along by air for free.

Upper House approved the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendement) Bill without discussion. Lok Sabha had already passed it on December 18, also without discussion.

The bill provides ministers the facility 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.

With this bill, the ministers come on par with the facilities given to MPs.

The Statement of the Objects and Reasons of the bill said that it proposed to end the discrepancy between Ministers and MPs and allows the spouse or legitimate children or step-children, as also the Minister’s companions or relatives, to travel on their own or with the Minister.