The monsoon session of Parliament is currently underway. The central government is being questioned on a variety of issues. Furthermore, the Eighth Pay Commission is also being discussed nationwide. The commission is facing numerous difficulties regarding the fitment factor and house rent allowance. Consequently, Parliament has sought answers from the government regarding house rent allowance. Many people had wondered whether a husband and wife, both working in government jobs and living in a government house in the same city, would receive separate house rent allowances. The central government has now clarified this issue.

Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmiki raised the issue of house rent allowance for government employee couples by questioning the Finance Ministry. She asked the government, "What is the logic behind the current policy of deducting house rent allowance when both husband and wife are government employees and live in the same government house? Has the government received any requests from employee unions or employees to reconsider this policy? And is the government going to review this rule to make it more fair and appropriate for employee couples?"

In a written reply to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra, Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary said that house rent allowance is only given to central government employees who, for some reason, are unable to obtain a government housing so that they can afford their rented accommodation. When both husband and wife are in government service and work at the same place, and even if one spouse is granted a government housing, the entire family is considered eligible for a government housing.

In such cases, the second spouse has no separate household expenses. Therefore, they are not eligible for HRA benefits. The government was asked whether it had received any representations from employees opposing this policy. The government replied that it had not received any representations. The Minister of State also stated that the government is not currently reviewing this rule.

The Finance Ministry's response makes it clear that if both husband and wife are government employees and live in the same government housing, only the person in whose name the housing is allotted will have the license fee deducted from their salary, and the other spouse will not receive the house rent allowance. The government is not currently considering relaxing the rules or extending the house rent allowance benefit to both spouses.

PC: ABP NEWS