The RTI filing revealed that Sumji, a former MLA elected on a Muslim United Front ticket from Bijbehara in 1987, was granted pension revisions through the J&K State Legislature Members Pension (Amendment) Act after a 2015 application for arrears and a higher monthly amount. The revisions were approved not once but thrice, raising his monthly pension from about ₹24,000 to ₹60,000, a figure he has been receiving since April 2018.
The move follows Sumji’s resignation from the assembly at the onset of Pakistan‑sponsored terrorism to join the pro‑Pakistan Hurriyat Conference, where he later became general secretary. His close ties with separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani have kept him in the political spotlight.
Former police chief SP Vaid remarked that leaders who propagate secessionist rhetoric continue to benefit from state funds, adding that “they reaped benefits from the very system they abuse.” Roots in Kashmir spokesperson Amit Raina demanded transparency, arguing that taxpayer money should not be distributed to individuals “hand‑soaked in blood.”
The pension controversy has amplified calls for a comprehensive review of the J&K government’s pension framework for former legislators, especially those with separatist affiliations. Critics argue that the policy permits open opposition to the Indian system while still offering substantial public benefits, a contradiction that the state must address publicly.