Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last Thursday tabled the Pensions (President, Parliamentary and Special Offices Amendment) Bill 2010, which seeks to ensure that a legislator is not disqualified for pension because he did not attain the age of forty.
“This Bill seeks to repeal section 10 (1) (c) of the Pensions (President, Parliamentary and Special Offices) Act to remove the requirement for the payment of a pension that a legislator with the requisite service must attain the age of forty years or if he has not reached the age of forty he must produce a medical certificate saying that he is incapable of discharging the duties of a legislator,” the bill’s explanatory memorandum states.
It adds that the amendment is necessary so that an otherwise qualified legislator, under section 10 of the Act for pension, shall not be disqualified on the ground that he has not attained the age of forty years. “A young legislator should not be penalised but given due reward for his service like any other legislator,” the memorandum stated.
