The Constitution of India
Article 97
Salaries and allowances of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker
There shall be paid to the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council of States, and to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, such salaries and allowances as may be respectively fixed by Parliament by law and, until provision in that behalf is so made, such salaries and allowances as are specified in the Second Schedule.
Why this exists
The framers wanted the presiding officers of Parliament's two Houses to be financially independent and adequately compensated so they could perform their duties without being beholden to the executive or facing uncertainty about pay. Rather than fixing rigid amounts in the Constitution itself, they gave Parliament the power to update salaries by ordinary law, while providing a fallback (the Second Schedule) so there would be no gap in payment if Parliament delayed legislating.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: The Constitution permanently fixes the exact salary of the Speaker and Chairman.
Fact: The Constitution only provides a fallback amount (Second Schedule); Parliament can change the actual salary anytime through ordinary law.