The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has requested the Chief Secretary to stop using taxpayer money to pay the income tax of the Chief Minister and Ministers.
According to the FGG, many states in India have already stopped this practice. However, some states, including Telangana, continue to pay Ministers’ income tax using public funds.
The FGG pointed out that, under subsection (4) of Section 3 of the Payment of Salaries Act, 1953, the Telangana government pays the income tax of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, other Ministers, Corporation Chairpersons, and advisors with cabinet rank.
The organization believes this provision goes against the principle of equality before the law. “We have written to the Chief Secretary to stop this unconstitutional practice, but there has been no response,” said FGG President M. Padmanabha Reddy.
