15 Mizoram MLAs accused of claiming fake TA

Aizawl, Aug 23: Mizoram government was rocked with reports of Travelling Allowance encashment by the 15 of the 38 Mizoram MLAs without undertaking actual trips.

Assembly secretariat sources here today said, as per the ''free travelling'' in the Mizoram Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of the Legislative Assembly Act 1999, the MLAs had availed of this benefit through the billing more than Rs 1 lakh for each travel period.

According to the act, Mizoram MALs are allowed to travel anywhere in India within a radius of 40,000 kilometres with four family members, but restricted to travel by first class rail only.

Sources said, the 15 legislators belonging to different parties of Mizoram had allegedly claimed fake TA bills.

The bills amounted to more than Rs one lakh, including leader of the opposition Mr Lalthanhawla had drawn only Rs 59,838 during 2005-06 and billed an amount of Rs 74,454 during 2006-07.

The state BJP unit demanded an independent inquiry into the reported financial defalcation by the legislators.

UNI