Overview
- The High Court’s division bench, which issued its order Tuesday, told the Vidhan Sabha secretary to release due pensions and arrears to Rajinder Rana and Ravi Thakur within one month with 6% yearly interest for any delay.
- The court held that the 2026 pension amendment is prospective, so both former legislators remain entitled to pensions earned during the 12th and 13th Assemblies.
- The Vidhan Sabha informed the court that a 2024 bill to cut pensions for disqualified members was withdrawn and that a new 2026 bill has passed the House and is awaiting the Governor’s assent.
- The BJP welcomed the verdict and said the Congress government tried to use the 2024 proposal to punish rebel MLAs through retroactive cuts.
- The dispute grew out of February 2024 cross-voting that led to anti-defection disqualifications and by-elections, leaving the petitioners outside the current term and not eligible for a 14th Assembly pension.