Hyderabad, March 11 -- The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has challenged the practice of the state government paying income tax for the chief minister, deputy chief minister, ministers, and other officials holding cabinet rank.

The forum argues that this arrangement is unconstitutional and should be terminated immediately.

Citing the Andhra Pradesh Payment of Salaries and Pensions and Removal of Disqualification Act, 1953, the FGG, in a letter to the chief secretary signed by its president M Padmanabha Reddy, contends that using public funds to pay income tax for these officials violates the principle of equality before the law.

This practice, they claim, imposes an undue burden on the state exchequer.

The forum also highlighted disc...