Shimla, April 2 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has moved to tighten provisions against political defection by introducing a bill that seeks to deny pension benefits to legislators disqualified under the anti-defection law. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday tabled The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2026. The proposed legislation aims to amend the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Act, 1971, by incorporating provisions to bar pension benefits for members disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the existing law does not contain any deterrent mechanism to discourage defections. The government has described the amendment as essential to uphold democratic values and prevent what it termed a "constitutional sin." At present, under Section 6-B of the 1971 Act, former MLAs are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 50,000 for their first term, along with an additional Rs 1,000 per month for each extra year of service. The Bill proposes insertion of a new sub-section (2-A), which states that any member disqualified under the anti-defection law shall not be entitled to pension, overriding existing provisions. The CM has sought the speaker's permission to list the Bill for immediate introduction, consideration, and passage....