Clarification regarding relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC

Clarification regarding relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC.

 

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

No. 43020/21 2016-Estt (A.IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi-110001
Dated: February 19, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Clarification regarding relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s o.M. No. 31011/412014- Estt.A-IV dated 19.06.2014 and subsequent o.M. regarding the procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC and to say that as per the extant instructions, whenever a Government servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the services of the authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC, (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).

Also check: LTC for New Joining Central Government Employees - FAQ

2. In this regard, many cases pertaining to the period of 2010-13 have been reported in this Department where Government employees had traveled on LTC by air to visit Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and North-East Region (NER) under the special dispensation scheme after booking the tickets through private travel agents due to lack of awareness of rules at that time. It has been observed that claims of these Government servants were initially settled by the administrative authorities. However, after few years when the audit authorities noticed the lapses, objections were raised on these claims and recoveries were ordered in such cases along with charging of penal interest. In view of the financial hardships caused to these individuals, huge demands are being received from Ministries/ Departments and JCM for grant of one time relaxation in these cases.

The matter has been considered in this Department in consultation with Joint consultative Machinery - staff side and Department of Expenditure. It has been decided to grant one time relaxation to such Government employees who had availed LTC by air to visit J&K and NER during the period of January. 2010 - June. 2014 and booked the tickets through travel agents other than ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & company’, ‘M/s Ashok travels & Tours’ and 'IRCTC' due to lack of awareness of rules. such relaxation shall be granted with the concurrence of Financial Advisor of the concerned Ministry/ Department. Fulfillment of fare limit of LTC-80 and other LTC conditions prevalent at the time of performance of journey by the Government servants may be ascertained before granting such relaxations. The Administrative Ministries/ Departments shall also ensure that only those cases are considered for relaxation where it is established that bonafide mistake has occured and no undue benefit has accrued to/obtained by the Government servant.

Further, in this regard, it is reiterated that the extant instructions regarding booking of air tickets on LTC journey through authorized modes should be strictly complied with. It is seen that despite reiterating the above provisions from time to time, this Department is still in receipt of cases seeking relaxation for booking of tickets from private travel agents on the grounds of lack of awareness of rules and work-exigencies. Therefore, Ministries/ Departments are again advised to ensure wide circulation of this Department’s instructions issued vide O.M. No. 310111212018-Estt.A-IV dated 10.12.2018, among their employees. Henceforth, the cases seeking relaxation on the plea of lack of awareness of rules and on grounds of exigencies of work shall not be considered by this Department. Only those cases, where the Administrative Ministry/ Department will certify the fact that bonafide mistake has occured and undue hardship is being caused to the Government servant, shall be considered by this Department.

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

To
The Secretaries
All Ministries/ Departments of Government of India
(As per the standard list)

Railway Board Order - Grant of Air Travel permission to RPF / RPSF personnel on Jammu - Srinagar sector

Railway Board Order - Grant of Air Travel permission to RPF / RPSF personnel on Jammu - Srinagar sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. F(E)I/2019/AL-28/21
New Delhi, dated:29.03.2019

The General Manager,
All Indian Railways / PUs,
(As per standard mailing list).

Sub: Grant of Air Travel permission to RPF / RPSF personnel on Jammu - Srinagar sector.

The proposal regarding grant of Air Travel permission to RPF / RPSF personnel on Jammu - Srinagar sector has been considered by Board (FC & CRB) and it has been decided that the non-entitled personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) are allowed to travel by air from Jammu to Srinagar and back on official duty (on termination commencement at Jammu) for the period of one year i.e. up to 31.03.2020.

Extension of this period is subject to review from time to time.

This will also be subject to the other Terms & Conditions / instructions issued from time to time by Ministry of Finance / Board’s office on ‘Air travel’.

Sd/-
(Jitendra Kumar)
Dy.Director Finance Estt-I
Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

MHA approves entitlement of air travel to all personnel of CAPFs

Ministry of Home Affairs
MHA approves entitlement of air travel to all personnel of CAPFs

21 FEB 2019

In a significant decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces. The decision will immediately benefit approximately 7,80,000 personnel of the CAPFs in the ranks of Constable, Head Constable and ASI who were otherwise not eligible earlier. This includes journey on duty and journey on leave, i.e; while going on leave from Jammu and Kashmir to home and return.

This facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs that have been steadily extended in all sectors by the MHA to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and fro from home on leave.

In Jammu and Kashmir Sector, it may be recalled that Air Courier Service for CAPF jawans was approved for the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector.

Subsequently, the Service was extended to cover 1) Delhi-Jammu, 2) Jammu-Srinagar, 3) Srinagar-Jammu and 4) Jammu-Delhi sector in Dec 2017. The number of flights were further extended in Dec 2018.

In addition, air support is provided from IAF as and when required.

PIB

Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office

Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office.

भारत सरकार Government of India
रेल मंत्रालय Ministry of Railways
(रेलवे बोर्ड) Railway Board

Office Order No. 104 of 2018 

Sub : Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office. 

Subsequent to IR employees being given AILTC facility on optional basis in accordance with the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 as per Boards Order No. E(W) 2017/PS5-l/3 dated 10.09.2018, all officers/staff working in Boards office are also eligible to avail AILTC.

2. For availing the facility of AILTC, Officer/Staff working in Board's Office should have rendered four or more years of continuous service on the date of the commencement of the journey. The following guidelines may be adhered to by the applicant for availing AILTC:-

i) Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) may be obtained from 'G Branch by following the prescribed procedure as contained in Boards letter dated 10.09.2018. However, in the first instance before applying for PPSC, the concerned staff should check his/her eligibility for availing AILTC.
ii) Leave of any type may be applied for and a declaration/advance intimation letter as per proforma enclosed at Annexure-I intending to avail AILTC may be submitted to the concerned Establishment Branch (ERB-I, ERB-II & ERB-V) along with original copy of PPSC issued by 'G' Branch.
iii) In case, AILTC advance is required, a separate request may be submitted as per prescri bed proforma enclosed at Annexure-II to the concerned ERB section ( ERB-I, II & V) in addition to submission of self-declaration/advance intimation letter. AILTC advance is to be applied 65 days (in case of Air travel) or 125 days ( in case of train travel) before the proposed date of outward journey and within ten days of the drawal of advance, the concerned employee is to produce tickets, irrespective of the date of commencement of the journey.
iv) LTC advance upto 90% of the estimated fare would be sanctioned.
v) In case, an employee performs journey without intimation and submission of original PPSC to the concerned ERB section, claim for reimbursement under AILTC would not be entertained.
vi) Subsequent to performing the journey related to AILTC, necessary claims for reimbursement /difference of expenditure ( in case of advance) may be submitted directly to respective Cash-I/II/III Sections as per enclosed proforma at Annexure-III for final settlement with all necessary required document.
vii) LTC claim as per Annexure-III is to be submitted within three months of completion of return journey, if no advance has been drawn; else, within one month of completion of return journey, if advance has been drawn.
viii) After undertaking journey, unspent amount of AILTC advance, if any, should be remitted within one month and in one lumpsum.
ix) Travel by Premium trains/Premium Tatkal trains/Suvidha trains are allowed on LTC however, travel in such train is to be by shortest route. Reimbursement of tatkal charges or premium tatkal charges shall also be admissible for the purpose of LTC. Flexi Fare (dynamic fare) applicable in Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains is also admissible for the journey(s) performed by these trains on LTC.
x) Those officials entitled for Air travel are required to travel by Air India only at LTC-80 fare or less. Fare indicated at LTC-80 is the maximum permissible ceiling limit for reimbursement; however, efforts should be made to book Air tickets at the cheapest fare possible.
xi) Those employees ( i.e, Pay Level 1 to 8 of Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC) who are not entitled to travel by Air may travel by any airline; however, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train /transport or actual expense, whichever is less. Further, dynamic fare component in respect of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains shall not be admissible in such cases i.e., where a non­ entitled Government servant travels by air and claims reimbursement for the entitled class of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains.
xii) In all cases, Air ticket is required to be booked either directly through the airlines ( Booking Counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz 'MIS Balmer Lawrie & Company', M/s Ashok Travels & Tours', and IRCTC ( to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DOP&Ts OM No. 31011/6/2002-Estt(A) dated 2.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted and no request for relaxation of rules for booking the tickets through any other agencies shall be considered by Boards office.
xiii) ) It may also be noted that Travel on Tour packages is not allowed, except in case of tours conducted by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and IRCTC. In such cases, only the fare component shall be reimbursable provided ITDC/STDC/IRCTC separately indicate the fare component and certify that the journey was actually performed by the Government servant and his family members for which he/she is claiming the All India Leave Travel Concession.
xiv) All tickets purchased should be submitted in original along with boarding passes duly stamped by Airport authorities (in case of Air travel) at the time of submitting claims after performing journey.
xv) In respect of special relaxation relating to travel by Air ( for those who are not entitled for Air travel under AILTC) on LTC to North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar, DOP&Ts OM No. 31011/3/2018-Estt(A-IV) dated 20.09.2018 may be referred to.

3. Role of 'G-Branch', ERB-I, II, V, Cash-I, II & III sections and PAO/Office/RB would be as under:-

a) General Branch will issue the Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) for AILTC purpose within 10 days of receiving the request from Applicant as per the instructions contained in E(W)'s above mentioned letter.
b) After receiving the request for optional AILTC as per Annexure-I & II, respective Establishment Branches (ERB-I, ERB-II & ERB-V) would verify/certify the necessary columns in it along with checking the admissibility as to whether the concerned employee is eligible for AILTC as per extant policy instruction and forward it to concerned Cash Section in case LTC advance has been sought.
c) An acknowledgement to the concerned employee may also be made and a copy of guidelines for perusal of employee may be given so as to ensure that the concerned employee is fully aware of the extant rules to be followed while availing optional AILTC and that there is no issue with regard to clearing of AILTC claim. In case AILTC is not admissible for the concerned employee, the same be advised in writing to the employee within three working days of the receipt of the intimation. A copy be also endorsed to the concerned Cash Section for information and record.
d) Concerned Cash section would process the case for LTC advance and reimbursement/claim as per extant rule for AILTC issued by Board's Office like normal reimbursement of TA/DA, Children Education Allowance (CEA) claim without referring it to Associate Finance. However, if any clarification is required on the extant rules, the nodal branch may be consulted. In respect of AILTC advance/clearing of claim, concerned Cash section are to sanction the amount based on concerned employee's eligibility for travel in AILTC, fares of shortest route by train and as per fare available under LTC-80 in respect of Air ticket.
e) After clearing of LTC claim, the concerned Cash Section would maintain the details of such claim separately as per CCS(LTC) Rule for maintaining register of LTC claim. Proforma is at Annexure-IV.
f) ERB-II, V and PAO Sections would also be required to make an entry in the service book of concerned employee claiming LTC along with an undertaking of completion of four or more years of service in this regard.
g) ERB-I, II, V, Cash-I, II, Ill & PAO sections may also go through the instructions issued on AI LTC/LTC by E(W) branch & DOP&T before processing the request related to AILTC.

4. All concerned may note that any misuse of AILTC will be viewed seriously and the concerned official would be liable for appropriate action under the relevant rules. Cash section may also randomly get some of the air tickets verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

5. The above issues with the approval of competent authority.

Encl: Annexure- I to IV

No. 2018/0&M/2/15
Dated: 26/09/2018

(H. Moharana)
Joint Secretary/Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

DoPT: Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession - LTC) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar - extension beyond 25.09.2018.

DoPT: Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession - LTC) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar - extension beyond 25.09.2018.

No.31011/3/2018-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: September 20, 2018

Office Memorandum

Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession - LTC) Rules, 1988 - Relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar - extension beyond 25.09.2018.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. No.31011/3/2014 - Estt.A-IV dated 19.09.2016 on the subject noted above and to say that in relaxation to CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the scheme allowing Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26th September, 2018 till 25th September, 2020 as under:

(i) LTC for visiting NER, J&K and A&N in lieu of a Home Town LTC.
(ii) Facility of air journey to non-entitled Government servants for visiting NER, J&K and A&N.
(iii) Permission to undertake journey to J&K, NER and A&N by private airlines.

2. The above special dispensation is subject to the following terms & conditions:
(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER / A&N/ J&K against the conversion of their one Home Town LTC in a four year block.
(ii) Government servants, whose Home Town and Headquarters/place of posting is the same, are not allowed the conversion .
(iii) Fresh Recruits are allowed conversion of one of the three Home Town LTCs in a block of four years, applicable to them.
(iv) Government servants entitled to travel by air may avail this concession from their Headquarters in their entitled class of air by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80.
(v) Government servants not entitled to travel by air are allowed to travel by air in Economy class by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80 in the following sectors:

(a) Between Kolkata/Guwahati and any place in NER.
(b) Between Kolkata/ChennaiNisakhapatnam and Port Blair.
(c) Between Delhi/Amritsar and any place in J&K.

Journey for these non-ntitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam/ Delhi/ Amritsar shall be undertaken as per their entitlement.
(vi) Air travel by Government employees to NER, J&K and A&N as mentioned in para
(iv) and (v) above is allowed whether they avail the concession against Anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC as permitted.
(vii) Air Tickets are to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company', 'M/s Ashok Travels & Tours' and 'IRCTC' [to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT's O.M. No. 31011/6/2002- Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009] while undertaking LTC journey . Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted and no request for relaxation of rules for booking the tickets through such agencies shall be considered by this Department.

3. Efforts should be made by the Government servants to book air tickets at the cheapest fare possible. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials .

4. In so far as the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, this order issues after consultation with Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

sd/-
(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source: dopt.gov.in

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent

No. 19024/2212017-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 19th July, 2017

Office Memorandum

Subject:  Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments' O.M. No. 19024/1/2005-E.IV dated 24.03.2006, O.M. No. 19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 16.09.2010 and O.M. No. 19024/1/2012-E.IV dated 09.07.2013 regarding guidelines on Air travel. As per these guidelines, in all cases of Air Travel where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/website of Airlines) and if needed, by utilizing the services of three Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC).

This Department is receiving a large number of proposals from various Ministries/Departments seeking ex-post-facto relaxation of the prescribed procedure for purchase of air tickets from authorized travel agents only.

The matter has been reconsidered in this Department. All Ministries/Departments are again directed to:

(i) Ensure strict compliance of extant guidelines for purchase of air ticket directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/website of Airlines) or from three authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC only by all officials/offices under their control. Henceforth relaxation on account of ignorance/unawareness of these guidelines will not be considered by this Department.

(ii) In case of non-availability of authorized agent at a particular place, ticket may be booked from website of Airlines or web portal of Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC.

(iii) In respect of Non-officials of Committees/Boards/Panels, the concerned Ministry/ Department have to mention in the meeting notice that the Non-official Member has to purchase the ticket from authorized travel agent only otherwise his claim will not be settled by that Ministry/Department.

(iv) All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, etc. have to widely circulate this O.M. in all offices including attached/subordinate offices/ autonomous bodies under their control with specific instructions to Heads of Departments concerned for strict compliance of these guidelines. Non-compliance of these guidelines by Ministries/Departments will be treated as lapse on the part of the concerned Ministry/Department.

(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training revision of instructions

Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training revision of instructions reg

Government of India / Bharat Sarkar
Ministry of Railways / Rail Mantralaya
(Railway Board)

No.F(E)I/2017/AL-28/41

RBE No.67/2018

New Delhi, dated 10.05.2018

General Manager,
All Indian Railways, PUs etc.
(As per Standard Mailing List)

Sub: Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training revision of instructions reg.

In continuation to Board's letter of even number dated 24.04.2018 (RBE No 61/2018), it has been decided that regular SAG officers, on tour may travel by 'J' / Business Class by Air within the country also

2. This has the approval of competent authority.

3. Please acknowledge receipt.

S/d,
(Jitendra Kumar)
Dy. Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board.

Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training; revision of instructions

Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training; revision of instructions

Government of India/Bharat Sarkar
Ministry of Railways/Rail Mantralaya
(Railway Board)

 RBE No.61/2018
No. F(E)I/2017/AL-28/41

New Delhi, dated 24.04.2018

General Manager,
All Indian Railways, PUs etc.
(As per Standard Mailing List)

Sub : Air Travel entitlements for journeys on tour or training; revision of instructions reg.
In partial modification of Board's letters of even number dated 24.08.2017 & 25.09.2017 on the subject, it has been decided by Board to revise the Air Travel entitlements of railway officers for journeys on tour or training in the following manner:

2. Further, in partial modification of Board's letter of even number dated 25.09.2017, it has also been decided by Board that grant of Air Travel permission to officers on Indian Railways, either one way or two way, may be approved personally by GMs of Railways with the prior personal concurrence of PFA.

3. As delegated vide pars 22 of Board's letter No. F(X)II-2015/PW/7, dated 12.06.2017 of delegation of powers to GMs, these powers may be exercised personally by Chief Administrative Officer with the prior personal concurrence of PFA in case of COFMOW, New Delhi, DCW/Patiala and MTP/ Chennai.

4. The competent authority while approving Air Travel would apply his mind and consider whether the available train connectivity and time taken justifies the same. For example, while Delhi-Bangalore-Delhi may qualify for Air Travel, Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi can easily be covered by train comfortably. General Manager while using his discretion to permit one way or two way Air Travel may consider both the need of the journey and the urgency that necessitates Air Travel.

5. It may be ensured that permission for Air Travel is given judiciously and restricted only to absolutely essential official requirement that is recorded, subject to availability of budgetary provisions.

6. This has the approval of Board (FC & CRB).

7. These orders will take effect from the date of issue of this letter.

8. Please acknowledge receipt.

S/d,
(Jitendra Kumar)
Dy. Director Finance (Estt.),
Railway Board.

Guidelines on Air Travel on Government Expenses - Purchase of Tickets from Authorised Agent: MHA OM

Guidelines on Air Travel on Government Expenses - Purchase of Tickets from Authorised Agent: MHA OM

No.19011/01/2015-Fin.II(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block, New Delhi,

Dated November 03, 2017

OFFICE-MEMORANDUM

Sub: Guidelines on Air Travel on Government Expenses - Purchase of Tickets from Authorised Agent- reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to GoI 14 below SR 48-8 wherein provision has been made that in all cases of air travel, where Govt. of India bears the cost of air passage, the officials have to travel only by Air India. Further, GoI 16 below the rule stipulates for purchase of air ticket directly from Airlines (Booking Counter or website of Airlines) or by utilizing the services of the authorised agents viz. M/s. Balmer Lawrie Co., M/s Ashoka Travels & Tours and IRCTC. Department of Expenditure, M/o. Finance time and again also stressed the need of travel only by Air India and purchase of air tickets from permissible source. Recent in this row is their OM No. 19024/22/2017E-IV dated 18th July, 2017 (copy enclosed for ready reference).

2. Despite this MHA is frequently in receipt of proposals for relaxation of above rules citing reason of ignorance/unawareness of these guidelines. Department of Expenditure has clarified to MHA that henceforth relaxation on account of ignorance/unawareness of the guidelines would not be considered by them in future.

3. It is, accordingly, stressed upon all the offices/Division under the ambit of Integrated Finance Division of MHA to scrupulously follow the guidelines relating to air travel.

Encl.: A/a.

(Kumar Manoj Kashyap)
Under Secretary & FA (Fin-II)

Source: www.mha.gov.in

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent - DoE Orders

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent - DoE Orders

No.19024/22/2017-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 19th July, 2017

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments’ OM. No.19024/1/2005-E.IV dated 24.03.2006, OM. No.19024/1/2009- E.IV dated 16.09.2010 and OM. No.19024/1/2012-E.IV dated 09.07.2013 regarding guidelines on Air travel. As per these guidelines, in all cases of Air Travel where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/website of Airlines) and if needed, by utilizing the services of three Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC).

2. This Department is receiving a large number of proposals from various Ministries/Departments seeking ex-post-facto relaxation of the prescribed procedure for purchase of air tickets from authorized travel agents only.

3. The matter has been reconsidered in this Department. All Ministries/Departments are again directed to:

(i) Ensure strict compliance of extant guidelines for purchase of air ticket directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/Website of Airlines) or from three authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC only by all officials/offices under their control. Henceforth relaxation on account of ignorance/unawareness of these guidelines will not be considered by this Department.

ii) In case of non-availability of authorized agent at a particular place, ticket may be booked from website of Airlines or web portal of Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and lRCTC.

iii) In respect of Non-officials of Committees/Boards/Panels, the concerned Ministry/Department have to mention in the meeting notice that the Non-official Member has to purchase the ticket from authorized travel agent only otherwise his claim will not be settled by that Ministry/Department.

iv) All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, etc. have to widely circulate this OM. in all offices including attached/subordinate offices/ autonomous bodies under their control with specific instructions to Heads of Departments concerned for strict compliance of these guidelines. Non- compliance of these guidelines by Ministries/Departments will be treated as lapse on the part of the concerned Ministry/Department.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Click to view the order
Authority: www.doe.gov.in

Air Travel is allowed for Central Government employees those who are in Level 6

TA Rules in 7th CPC: Air Travel is Allowed for Central Government Employees from Level 6 and Above

Now the Air Travel is allowed for Central Government employees those who are in Level 6 (Pre Revised Rs.4200 Grade Pay) and above. It is Good News for those who are in Level 6 to 8, as the Travel entitlement for them so far is AC II by Train only. Now they are entitled to Travel By Air in Economy Class.

The Central Government published Gazette Notification for 7th CPC Allowances on 6th July 2017. The 7th CPC has recommended that 53 allowances be abolished and 37 be subsumed in an existing or a newly proposed allowances. But the Government has decided to retain 12 Allowances from that 53 Allowances and allowed 3 Allowances to continue as separate allowance from these 37 Allowances recommended to be subsumed. Finally the Committee on Allowances and ECoS after the discussion with stakeholders, recommended to Modify 34 Allowances

The 7th CPC has recommended that Travelling Allowances can be continued without any changes. But the Government has decided to extend the Air Travel Entitlement to Govt Servants those who are in Level As per the Gazette Notification issued by Government of India, the Travelling allowance is rationalised to enable the Central Staffs from Level 6 to 8 to Travel by Air . The Official concerned clarified that, this Modified Travel Entitlement will be extended to LTC also.

Appendix I
List of allowances recommended by the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) along with modifications as approved by the Government of India

Sl.	Name of the Allowance	Recommendation of 7th CPC	Modifications accepted by the Government
31.	Travelling Allowance	Retained. Rationalized. Indian Railways to reconsider its position regarding air travel to its employees.	Level 6 to 8 of Pay Matrix to be entitled for Air travel.Level 5 A of Defence Forces to be clubbed with Level 6 for travelling entitlements. Existing system to continue in Ministry of Railways.

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules 1988 Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER, J and K and A and N

No. 31011/ 3/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment (A-IV) Desk
***

North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: September 19, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER, J&K and A&N.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's O.M. of even no. dated 09.09.2016 on the subject noted above regarding extension of the scheme to travel by air to North East Region (NER) , Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N). As clarifications have been sought from many quarters, it is clarified that the following schemes have been extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26th September, 2016:

(i) LTC for visiting NER, J&K and A&N in lieu of a Home Town LTC.
(ii) Facility of air journey to non-entitled government servants for visiting NER, J&K and A&N.
(iii) Permission to undertake journey to Jammu and Kashmir by private airline.

2. The above special dispensation is subject to the following terms & conditions:

(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER/A&N/ J&K against the conversion of their one Home Town LTC in a four year block.
(ii) Government servants whose Home Town and Headquarters /place of posting are the same are not allowed the conversion.
(iii) Fresh Recruits are allowed conversion of one of the three Home Town LTCs in a block of four years applicable to them.
(iv) Government servants entitled to travel by air can avail this LTC from their Headquarters in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less. While travelling to North-East region and Port Blair, journey has to be performed by Air India only. However, while availing LTC to Jammu & Kashmir, service of any airlines may be availed.
(v) Government servants not entitled to travel by air are allowed to travel by air in the following sectors:

(a) Between Kolkata/ Guwahati and any place in NER by Air India only in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.
(b) Between Kolkata/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar and Port Blair by Air India only in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.
(c) Between Delhi / Amritsar and any place in J&K by any airlines in Economy class at LTC-80 fare or less.  Journey for these non-entitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar/ Delhi/ Amritsar will have to be undertaken as per their entitlement.

(vi) Air travel by non-entitled officers to NER, J&K and A&N is allowed whether they avail the normal anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC as permitted.

(vii) Air Tickets are to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. 'M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company', 'M/s Ashok Travels & Tours' and 'IRCTC' (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT's O.M. No. 31011/6/2002 Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted.

3. Efforts should be made by the Government servants to book the air tickets at the cheapest fare possible. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the Airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Director (Establishment)
dire-dopt@gov.in

Source: Persmin

Air Travel: Accounting and Payment by PAO

Air Travel Accounting and Payment by PAO

Government of India
Controller General of Defence Accounts
Ulan Batar Road, Delhi cantt  110066
(Defence Travel System, E Ticketing Project)
Phone No.: 011-26108268/26163404 /Fax No.: 011 26163403

No. Mech/EDP/861/E-T /Air

Dated: 15/09/2016

To,
The PCsDA/CsDA,

Subject: Air Travel Accounting and Payment by PAO

Reference: HQrs Office letter no. Mech/EDP/861/E-Ticketing/Phase-III dated-21-12-2015.

It is intimated that under the e-Ticketing system- wherein Rail Tickets are being booked in lieu of warrants, an Air travel module has also been launched in collaboration with Balmer Lawrie to cover all types of moves like Temporary Duty, Permanent Transfer, LTC All India and LTC Home Town. Air tickets are being booked through DTS since 11 September 2015 by various units across Services under different PAOs. The payment procedure as agreed between CGDA and Balmer & Lawrie is post payment.

2. All PCsDA/CsDA/PCA{Fys) along with this HQrs office has been issued two set of tokens/login-id for this purpose.

(a) One set of Token /Login-Id for DAD Employee:  For booking of Air Tickets i.e. Master Booker Tokens and Competent Authority Approval Tokens for booking of Air Tickets for entitled DAD officers (already issued during training in the Jan, 2016).

(b) PAO tokens for generating and downloading of system generated booking details /Bills and invoices of air tickets booked for DAD entitled officers for payment. Such Tokens (Issued recently) cannot be used for booking of Air Tickets.

3. Process of Booking of Air Tickets: As mentioned in para 2(a) above, one set of Token/Login Id has already been issued for DAD Employee for profile creation of all officer/staffs entitled to travel by Air and booking of Air Tickets.

Air Tickets. Initially, profiles of all the officers/staffs working under jurisdiction of each PCsDA/CsDA and PCA(Fys) need to be created for booking of Air Tickets. The creation of profile is a onetime process and need not be done again. When an officer/staffs will be transferred from one PCsDA/CsDA to another, in such case his profile need to be “Transferred out” by the old office and accordingly his new office will perform the activity of “Transfer in” of such officers/staffs. All such activities like profile creation, editing of profile, Air Travel Booking request and cancellation request are performed by master booker /Booker token. At the same time, Approval/Approving token is used for approval of all such request as forwarded by the master booker token through DTS system. Accordingly, once travel request is approved by Competent Authority/Approving Authority, Master Booker/Booker Token can book the Air Ticket as per Travel Regulation and Movement Sanction.


4. Process of Payment of Air Tickets to Balmer Lawrie & Co.:  As mentioned above, the booking of Air Tickets has been launched in collaboration with Balmer Lawrie, the payment procedure as agreed between CGDA and Balmer & Lawrie is post payment. Following steps are involved in processing of payment of Air Tickets to Balmer Lawrie & Co.

(a) Online Accounting and Payment Module for Air Travel:  As mentioned in para 2(b) above, Air Ticket booking details and voucher for Air Ticket booked during a particular period can be generated by logging in to the PAO Module for further processing of payment to Balmer & Lawrie Co.

(b) Preparation of Punching Medium:  After generation of the voucher by logging-in to the PAO Module, PCsDA/CsDA will prepare Punching Medium to compile under respective code head as per classification hand book.

(c) Payment Through NEFT:  After preparation of Punching Medium and Daily Payment Sheet, PCsDA/CsDA will make payment of the due amount through NEFT or through any other process is being followed in their offices.

(d) Voucher Settlement:  After payment PCsDA/CsDA will log-in to the PAO Module and will mark against each invoices as payment done.

(e) Voucher Acknowledgement:  All payment will be acknowledged by Balmer & Lawrie through System and PCsDA /CsDA will be able to download Receipt voucher of payment from the system.

4. Claim Submission:  As the Air Ticket booked through system is given to the officer is as good as advance to the officer/staff serving in the PCsDA/CsDA offices, traveler will submit his final claim within one month after completion of the journey along with original boarding pass and a copy of the Air Ticket booked through DTS

5. In this regard it is intimated that PCsDA/CsDA who are not having PKI tokens (One set of Booking Token with two tokens (One for Master Booker/Booker Token and another for Approval Token)) for booking of Air Tickets through DTS and one PKI token (PAO Token) for generation of voucher and processing payment are requested to intimate to this HQrs office for issuing of the same. PCsDA/CsDA/PCA(Fys) offices in possession of one set of PKI token (One for Master Booker/Booker token, another for Approval token) are requested to start booking of Air Tickets through DTS immediately.

Jt. CGDA (IT&S) has seen.

Sd/-
Deepak Kumar
Sr.ACGDA(IT & S)

Source : cgda.nic.in

Delegation of powers to Financial Advisers of administrative Ministry/ Department to accord exemption for air travel in airlines other than Mr India in individual cases of autonomous bodies

Delegation of powers to Financial Advisers of administrative Ministry/ Department to accord exemption for air travel in airlines other than Mr India in individual cases of autonomous bodies— reg.

No. 19024/1/2009E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
***

New Delhi, dated the 26th July, 2016

Office Memorandum

Sub:-Delegation of powers to Financial Advisers of administrative Ministry/ Department to accord exemption for air travel in airlines other than Mr India in individual cases of autonomous bodies— reg.

Reference is invited to Para ‘2’ of Department of Expenditure’s 0.M. of even number dated 07.06.2016, which provides that powers, which were vested with Ministry of Civil Aviation to accord exemption for Air travel, both domestic and international, by Airlines other than Air India because of operational or other reasons or on account of non-availability, have been delegated to the Financial Advisors (FA) of the administrative Ministries/Departments and that in respect of the individual cases of Autonomous bodies, the FAs of the concerned Ministry/Department will accord exemption for Air travel by Airlines other than Air India.

2. Several references are being received in this Department seeking further delegation of powers to FAs of Autonomous bodies/statutory organisations, to accord approval to travel in any Airlines other than Air India, in individual cases covering that Autonomous body/statutory organisation.

3. It is hereby clarified that the powers to accord exemption for air travel by airlines other than Air India, including individual cases of Autonomous bodies, are vested only in the Financial Advisers of the Ministries/Departments, exercising administrative control over the Autonomous body/statutory organisation and that these powers cannot be further delegated to FAs of the Autonomous body/statutory organisation under the administrative control of the Ministry/Department concerned.

(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on Air Tickets

Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on Air Tickets

Principal Controller of Accounts (Ordnance Factories), Kolkata

Important Circular

Office of the PCA (Fys) Kolkata,
10A, S. K. Bose Road,
Kolkata -700001

Dated: 20/1/2016
NO.2078/AN-VIII/TA/LTC/BL

Sub: Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on air tickets book on Government account

A copy of Gol, MoF, DoE, OM no. 19024/1/2012-E-IV, dated 5/9/2014 on the above subject along with M/s Balmer Lawrie Co. Ltd. Letter dated 3/11/2015 is forwarded herewith for your information and guidance, please.

sd/
Nabarun Dhar
Jt. C of A.(Fys)

N0.19024/1/2012-E-lV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Departrnent of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi.
Dated the 5th September, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject- Facilitation Fee levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account – Withdrawal regarding.

Attention is invited to this Department’s O.M of even number dated 10th October 2013 wherein the authorized travel agents namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) M/s , Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) were allowed to levy ‘Facilitation Fee’ @ Rs.100/- per ticket for domestic sector and Rs.300/- per ticket for international sector for air travel. Wherein Government of lndia bears the cost of air passage.

2. The issue has been re-examined in consolation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of provisions of the Air craft’s Rules,1937, as amended from time to time and it has been decided to Withdraw this Department’s O.M of even number dated 10th October 2013 with immediate effect. Consequently, no service charges (by whatever nomenclature), which are not included in the tariff charged by Air India / Airlines, are required to be paid to the authorized travel agents.

3. payment to the authorized travel agents for the Bills raised by them for air tickets produced/ purchased till date in respect of air travel already undertaken or due to be undertaken would be regulated as per O.M of even number dated 10.10.2013. it is reiterated that as far as possible air tickets on Government account may be obtained directly from Air India/ Airlines (booking counter/offices/website) and if obtaining tickets directly from Air India/ Airlines is not possible should the services of authorized travel agents be availed of.

4. All Ministries/Departments are advised to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned from compliance.

Sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Director

Balmer Lawrie
TOURS & TRAVEL

Date: November 03, 2015

To
Principal Controller of Accounts (FYS)
1OA, S K Bose Road
Kolkata – 700001

Kind attention: Mr. Nabarun Dhar, JT. Controller of Accounts (AN)

Dear Sir,
Kindly refer to your letter ref. no. 2078/ AN-VIII/TA-DA/BL dated 16/10/15, please note that in accordance with GOI, MoF, DoE OM no. 19024/1/2012-E.IV, dated 5/09/2014, we are not charging any Service Charge/Facilitation Fee/ Processing Fee etc. in our bill.

But SERVICETAX, EDU. Cess, & High Edu. Cess, are Govt. Statutary Taxes which are chargeable if you purchase any ticket from an agency and we are regularly depositing this Service Taxes to the service tax authority vide service tax registration no. AABCB0984EST047, which is already mentioned in our bill.

Hence you are kindly requested to make payment of service taxes accordingly.

Thanking you.

Yours faithfully,
For Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd.,

Sd/-
(S. Nath)
Sr. Branch Manager (Travel & Vacations)

Authority: http://pcafys.gov.in/

Click to view the order

KVS issued guidelines on Air Travel on Tour / LTC

KVS issued guidelines on Air Travel on Tour / LTC

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (HQ)
18, Institutional Area, SJS Marg
New Delhi – 110 016

F.No.1-1/2015/KVS (JC-Fin)

Date: 17.12.2015

The Deputy Commissioner & Director,
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan,
All Regional Offices & ZIETs.

Sub: Guidelines on Air Travel on Tour / LTC

Sir/Madam,

During the audit on the accounts of Regional Offices and Kendriya Vidyalayas, the audit parties observed that the officers entitled for travel by Air have booked their Air Tickets through private travel agencies, which is not in order as per the extant orders and have also objected to it.

As per the Government of India guidelines, Air Tickets may be purchased directly from offices of the Air India ( at Booking counters/website of Airlines) or by utilizing the services of Authorized Travel Agencies namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s OM No.311011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009).

The same procedure should be following for booking the Air Tickets for performing the Leave Travel Concession travel facility.

The copies of the following orders are enclosed herewith:

1. Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of personnel and Training) OM.No.311011/6/2002 – (Estt.(A) dated 2nd December 2009. [Click to view the orders]

2. Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure office Memorandum No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 16th September, 2010. [Click to view the orders]

3. Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Office Memorandum No.19024/1/2012/E.IV dated 9th July 2013. [Click to view the orders]

4. Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, public Grievances and pensions (Department of personnel and Training) OM.No.311011/5/2014-(Estt.(A-IV) dated 23rd September 2015 [Click to view the orders]

In this connection, Deputy Commissioner, Regional Offices and Director, ZIETs are requested to inform their subordinate offices for strict compliance of the above orders.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(M.Arumugam)
Jt. commissioner (Finance)

Click to view the order

Authority: www.kvsangathan.nic.in

Proposal for seeking one time relaxation in respect of LTC 80 claims of Defence Civilian Employees

MOD invites LTC Claim Details for one time relaxation – BPMS

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

D(Civ-I)

Subject : Proposal for seeking one time relaxation in respect of LTC 80 claims of Defence Civilian Employees

Defence Civilian Employees’ Federations are pursuing the above issue in the meetings of the JCM Departmental Council wherein they have informed that many Defence civilian employees while availing LTC by Air to destinations like A&N Islands, J&K and NER, did not follow the instructions regarding purchase of these air tickets only from the booking counters/websites of Air India or from the Authorized Travel Agents [M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC]. A number of employees being first time travellers by air, did not observe these instructions due to ignorance. As a result, there administrative authorities have rejected their claims under LTC 80 submitted by them after performing the journey. To resolve this issue, the employees Federations have approached this Ministry and have requested to take up the matter to DoP&T with recommendation that:

 

a) Claims of Group C and B employees who are otherwise not entitled for Air Travel, in case they have availed LTC 80 by purchasing Air tickets from other than the authorized agents may be considered as a one time measure and a relaxation may be granted to pass their LTC claims as a special case;

 

b) For such employees who have purchased Air Tickets prior to 26 Sep 2014 from other than authorized agents to travel to A&N Islands, in their case, the LTC claim may be restricted to their entitled class in Steamer/Ship

 

2. The DoP&T have communicated vide their letter No.31011/6/2015-Estt.A IV dated 1st July addressed to JCM, National Council, that it would not be feasible to relax the LTC rules as a one-time measure. However, cases of individual hardship as recommended by Ministries/ Departments would be considered on a case to case basis.

 

3. Accordingly, it is proposed to take up the matter with the DoP&T for a decision on the LTC claims submitted by the defence civilian employees where the air tickets have not been purchased by these employees in accordance with the Government instructions. It is requested that the details of such cases may please be furnished in the enclosed proforma latest by 17 Aug 2015, along with views/comments, so that a consolidated proposal could be sent to the DoP&T for consideration of one time relaxation.

Encl : Proforma

Sd/-

Gurdeep Singh)

Under Secretary (Civ)

Click to view the proforma

One Time Relaxation for LTC claim: BPMS Circular

(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)

(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)

(RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)

CENTRAL OFFICE: 2-A, NAVEEN MARKET, KANPUR – 208001, PH & FAX : (0512) 2332222

MOBILE: 09415733686, 09235729390, 09335621629, WEB : www.bpms.org.in

REF: BPMS / CIR / LTC / 01

Dated: 27.07.2015

To,
The Office Bearers / CEC Members,
President / Secretary of the Unions
Affiliated to BPMS

Subject: One Time Relaxation for LTC claim

Dear brothers & sisters,
Namaskar

You may be aware of that Shri S N Batwe, Patron/BPMS highlighted some of the following issues related to LTC, thereupon vide letter No. BPMS / DoP&T/ LTC / 50 (7/2/R), Dated 10.11.2014 this federation requested the DoP&T as well as MOD to consider the issues sympathetically :-

 

(i) Earlier { DoP&T F.No. 31011/412007-Estt.(A), dated 02.05.2008} the Group ‘B’ Central Government employees were entitled to travel by Air from their place of posting or nearest airport but now {vide DoP&T O.M. No. 31011/ 3/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV), dated 26.09.2014} only eligible Government servants may travel from their place of posting or nearest airport, hence necessary clarification was required so that the Group ‘B’ employees may be entitled to travel by Air from their place of posting or nearest airport;

 

(ii) Vide DoP&T F.No. 31011/4/2007-Estt (A), Dated 30.04.2012 the Air travel relaxation under LTC for NER was extended for 02 yrs from 01.05.2012, i.e., applicable upto 01.05.2014 and vide DoP&T F. No. 31011/2/2003-Estt.A-IV, dated 15.06.2012 the Air travel relaxation under LTC for J&K was extended for 02 yrs from 18.06.2012, i.e., applicable upto 18.06.2014 whereas this order grants the relaxation for air travel w.e.f. 26.09.2014. There were some of the employees who have travelled by Air under LTC in the intervening period, i.e., 01.05.2014 / 18.06.2014 and 26.09.2014 in anticipation of extension of such relaxation as per prevailing practice. To mitigate the financial hardships of such employees, the DoP&T O.M. No. 31011/ 3/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV), dated 26.09.2014 should have retrospective effect, i.e., 01.05.2014.

 

(iii) Some of the defence civilian employees while availing LTC by Air to destinations like A&N Islands, J&K and NER, did not follow the instructions regarding purchase of their air tickets only from the booking counters/websites of Air India or from the Authorized Travel Agents [M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC] and their LTC claims are not being allowed. Hence, one time relaxation is required to settle these cases.

 

Now, Min of Defence is considering the case (iii) and invited the details from concerned authorities. Hence, all are requested to forward their details through proper channel in given format only.

 

Thanking you.

Sincerely yours

sd/-

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS & Member, JCM-II Level Council (MOD)

Source : BPMS

Travelling Allowance in respect of Attendant/Escort for accompanying a Government Servant with Disabilities on travel during tour/training

Travelling Allowance in respect of Attendant/Escort for accompanying a Government Servant with Disabilities on travel during tour/training etc: Finance Ministry OM dated 17-02-2015

No. 19030/3/2013-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 17th February, 2015.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject- Travelling Allowance in respect of Attendant/Escort for accompanying a Government Servant with Disabilities on travel during tour/training etc.

References have been received in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure seeking provision in the Rules/instructions regulating Travelling Allowance, in order to allow grant of Travelling Allowance to the Government servant with Disabilities in respect of an Attendant/Escort accompanying such a Government servant with Disabilities during travel while on tour/training, etc. At present there are no provisions in the Travelling Allowance rules which allows Government servants to claim Travelling Allowance in respect of Attendant/Escort accompanying them on tour/ training, etc. where such Government servants require the assistance of an Attendant/Escort for travel.

2. The matter has been considered and it has now been decided to allow Travelling Allowance in respect of the Attendant/Escort, for accompanying a Government servant with Disabilities during travel while on tour/training, etc., to be claimed by the Government servant with Disabilities. The admissibility of Travelling Allowance, in respect of the Attendant/Escort accompanying a Government servant with Disabilities, would be subject to the following conditions:-

(a) Ordinarily, the field offices/local administrative offices at the touring station, which the Government servant with Disabilities is required to visit on tour or training institutes where the Government servant with Disabilities is required to undergo training, would be required to provide an Attendant/Escort, from the existing pool of staff/persons employed, from the time the Government servant with Disabilities arrives at the destination and till such time the Government servant with Disabilities departs from that destination back to his headquarter station/place from where the Government servant with Disabilities had initially proceeded to that destination. During travel abroad, either on foreign tour/training, the Indian Missions/Posts (Embassy of India) at the country of visit would be required to.provide an Attendant/Escort, from the existing pool of staff/persons ,employed, during the period of stay of the Government servant with Disabilities in that country.

(b) Only when field offices/local administrative offices at the touring station or training institutes or Indian Missions/Posts at the country of visit, as the case may be, officially express their inability to provide an Attendant/Escort to the visiting Government servant with Disabilities, would the claim of Travelling Allowance in respect of Attendant/Escort accompanying the Government servant with Disabilities arise. In such cases, fare for travel of Attendant/Escort accompanying Government servant with Disabilities would be reimbursed. While for travel by air, Airlines-are expected to provide assistance to Government servant with Disabilities during travel as per Airlines policies, a Government servant with Disabilities however, can take along his personal Attendant/Escort for travel by Indian Railways for assistance during journey and boarding/de-boarding, even when an Attendant/Escort at destination station is provided officially.

(c) In all cases, Government servant with Disabilities are required to purchase travel tickets for self and Attendant/Escort at concessional rates, if any, offered by Railways/Airlines.

(d) The facility of Travelling Allowance for the Attendant/Escort would only be admissible to those Government servants with Disabilities, wherein it is certified by the competent Medical Authority that such a person compulsorily requires assistance of another person for travel. Under this clause, necessary certificate is to be obtained from the Head of Department of a Government Civil Hospital designated for the type/form of disability of the Government servant. Based on the certificate from competent Medical Authority, Heads of Departments would have to further satisfy the need for an Attendant/Escort during travel of the Government servant, before allowing the journey for the Attendant/Escort.

(e) Subject to clause (d) above, Travelling Allowance for the Attendant/Escort would be admissible to the Government servant with Disabilities while on tour (domestic or foreign). However, the authority deputing such a Government servant with Disabilities on tour would have to record in writing that the tour is considered necessary in the discharge of duties and responsibilities assigned to the Government servant with Disabilities.

(f) Subject to clause (d) above, Travelling Allowance for the Attendant/Escort would also be admissible to the Government servant with Disabilities when deputed on training provided it is recorded by the authority competent to depute such officials on training that such training is a mandatory training for career progression or induction training for probationers.

(g) Travelling Allowance consists of two parts; Mileage Allowance and Daily Allowance. No Daily Allowance would be admissible to the Attendant/Escort of the Government servant with Disabilities. Mileage Allowance would be admissible to the Attendant/Escort at the same rate and in the same class of accommodation, as the Government servant with Disabilities is entitled to under the Revised Travelling Allowance Rules, read with travel restrictions imposed under austerity measures/economy instructions, issued from time to time by the Government. However, in case of travel by any of the modes of conveyance by road, as prescribed under the Travelling Allowance rules, no separate mileage allowance would be admissible to the Government servant with Disabilities, in respect of the Attendant/Escort, except where the travel is by public bus.

(h) For commuting between residence to office and back, certain categories of Government servants with Disabilities are eligible for Transport Allowance at double the normal rates. As no Travelling Allowance is admissible to. Government servants for training at headquarter station, consequently, no claim of Travelling Allowance to the Attendant/Escort of the Government servant with Disabilities would be admissible for training at headquarter station.

3. In so far as persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Director

Source: http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/ta_ota/TA_Attendant_disabilities_tourtraining17022015.pdf

Air Travel LTC to J&K, N.E.R and A&N extended by 2 Years

Air Travel LTC to J&K, N.E.R and A&N extended by 2 Years
 
Leave Travel Concession to travel via air to Jammu & Kashmir, the North Eastern Regions and the Andaman and Nicobar islands has been extended for another two years for Central Government employees.
The LTC scheme, which is granted to Central Government employees and their family members, has now been extended up to September 2016. Click here for the detailed DOPT order.


DOPT has also released an order regarding LTC scheme for new recruits. Explanations have been given in the form of questions and answers. The order contains answers to 8 very important questions, explanations for them and 4 pictorial examples.

Foreign Tour for CG Employees, demanded by NC JCM Staff Side. Explore the possibility of allowing an employer to undertake tour outside India once in his life time in lieu of the LTC.

The facility provides him with an opportunity to be away from the monotonous daily routine and be with his family without the botherisation of the official duties. It is an established fact that if employer is encouraged to take such holidays they will reform rejuvenated and the employer is benefitted through his increased productivity.

Over the years, on representation from employees, the concession has been widened. However, some aspects of this facilities require certain further relaxations/improvements. Staff Side enumerate those as under:-

1. Permission for air journey for all categories of employees to and from NE Region.
2. Permission for personnel posted in NE Region for a journey within NE Region.
3. To increase the periodicity of the LTC once in two years.
4. Explore the possibility of allowing an employer to undertake tour outside India once in his life time in lieu of the LTC.

7th CPC to consider recommending our suggestion for improvements to the Government.

Source: http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in

LTC - Leave Travel Concession – Air Travel concession ends today

LTC - Leave Travel Concession – Air Travel concession ends today

Concession of Air travel, which the Central Government employees have been enjoying for the past 6 years, comes to an end today. It is saddening to see that a scheme, that was so popular and enjoyed by all across ranks, has come to an end.

Travelling by airplane with the entire family is still not an ordinary feat for the majority of Indians. It therefore comes as no surprise that the ones who didn’t utilize this opportunity are regretting it.

For countless Central Government employees who completed a year in service and took their parents and siblings on a plane journey, it will be a memory worth cherishing for a very long time.

Former employees, who had served for 30-40 years but didn’t enjoy this facility, sure have their regrets. No matter how sophisticated and comfortable buses, trains and ships are, they can’t quite match the thrill of travelling by air.

There are no indications yet that the scheme could be extended, but one can be sure only after the 2014-15 General Budget is presented.