All about 7th Central Pay Commission for Central Government Employees. Dearness Allowance for Government Employees, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS - DOPT, DOPT Orders, Expected DA & more.
Grant of one time relaxation to the Central Government Employees who have availed LTC-80 and traveled by air by
purchasing ticket from authorities other than authorized agents
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
Ph: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
For central Government
Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110 001
E Mail: nc.jcm.np@gmail.com
No.NC-JCM-2019/DOPT (LTC)
September , 2019
The Secretary
Government Of India
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block
New Delhi
Sub: Grant of one time relaxation to the Central Govt. Employees who have availed LTC-80 and traveled by air by
purchasing ticket from authorities other than authorized agents
Dear sir,
The above demand was discussed as Item No.15 of the standing committee meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 7-3-
2019. The extract from the minutes of the above meeting is gives below for your kind ready reference.
Staff side proposed that
if the employee has actually traveled in Air India flight, then the LTC-80 fare of the journey day may be paid to him
irrespective of the fact that ticket was purchased from authorized agent or not. Any excess amount over and above the LTC-
80 fare can be recovered;
No disciplinary action and stoppage of future LTC may be taken;
A general instruction in this regard may be issued to all the Departments to regularize all the pending LTC-80 cases as
above.
‘Chairman agreed to consider the demand of the staff side’.
Sir, as agreed in the meeting a general instruction as above has not yet been issued by the DOP&T. It is therefore
requested that since the employees are subjected to undue hardship, necessary instructions in this regard may please be
issued at the earliest.
Thanking you
DoE: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized
agent
No.N-20011/29/2016-E.II(pt.IV)
Government Of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(Establishment Section-II)
Transport Bhawan, 1, parliament Street, New Delhi-110001
New Delhi, Dated February, 2019
CIRCULAR
Sub:- Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours-purchase of air ticket from authorized agent -
reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Department Of Expenditure, ( Ministry of Finance) O.M No.
19024/22/2017.E.IV dated 19.07.2017 and 27.02.2018 (Copy Enclosed) on the subject mentioned above
and to request all officers for strict compliance of extant air travel guidelines, as henceforth,
relaxation on account Of ignorance,’ unawareness about these guidelines would not be considered in
future.
Accordingly, all CES (Roads) officers are hereby requested for strict compliance of the same.
sd/-
(Kamal Kishore)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent
No.19024/22/2017-EIV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 27th February, 2018
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, 19024/22/2017-E.IV dated
19.07.2017 regarding guidelines on Air travel where the Govt. of India bears the cost of passage. As
per this O.M., Ministries/Departments were asked to ensure that these instructions are given
adequate coverage and were to be circulated to all so that ‘lack of knowledge’ of the rules is not
cited as an excuse. In spite of these instructions, a large number of cases for relaxation of air
travel guidelines due to purchase of air ticket from unauthorized travel agents, are still being
received in this Department.
The matter has been re-considered and it has been decided that all such cases of air travel where
tickets have been purchased after issue of this Department’s O.M. dated 19.07.2017, seeking
relaxation of air travel guidelines pertaining to purchase of air ticket from authorized agent,
should have the approval of Secretary of the Administrative Ministry before referring the same to
Department of Expenditure.
This is issued with the approval of Secretary Expenditure.
sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Clarification on Purchase of Air ticket - DoE
Orders dt.27.2.2018
No.19024/22/2017-EIV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 27th February, 2018
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,
19024/22/2017-E.IV dated 19.07.2017 regarding
guidelines on Air travel
where the Govt. of India bears the cost of passage. As
per this 0.M.,
Ministries/Departments were asked to ensure that these
instructions are
given adequate coverage and were to be circulated to
all so that ‘lack
of knowledge’ of the rules is not cited as an excuse.
In spite of these
instructions, a large number of cases for relaxation of
air travel
guidelines due to purchase of air ticket from
unauthorized travel
agents, are still being received in this Department.
2. The matter
has been re-considered and it has been decided that
all such cases of
air travel where tickets have been purchased after
issue of this
Department's O.M. dated 19.07.2017, seeking relaxation
of air travel
guidelines pertaining to purchase of air ticket from
authorized agent,
should have the approval of Secretary of the
Administrative Ministry
before referring the same to Department of
Expenditure.
This is issued with the approval of Secretary
Expenditure.
sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir – Extension orders issued by Dopt on 1.6.2016
Central
Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to
travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir – Extension reg.
No.31011/7/2014-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: June 1st, 2016
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:-
Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 —
Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir –
Extension reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this
Ministry’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2014- Estt.(A-1V) dated 26th September, 2014
where Government servants in relaxation to CCS(LTC) Rules, were allowed
to travel by air to visit Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), North East
Region (NER) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) on LTC for a
period of two years against conversion of one block of Home Town LTC.
The relaxation was given subject to air travel by Air India only.
2.
Later vide DoPT’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.11.2014, the Government
decided to allow travel by private airlines to visit Jammu & Kashmir
under this special dispensation scheme subject to certain conditions.
The scheme was valid for a period of one year from the date of issue of
the O.M. and expired on 27.11.2015.
3. It has now been decided to
extend the scheme for a further period from the date of issue of this
O.M., till the date of expiry of the of the special dispensation scheme
of travel by air to J&K, NER and A&N, i.e. 25.09.2016. All other
terms and conditions prescribed in this Department’s O.M. dated
28.11.2014 shall continue to apply.
(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Director (Establishment)
Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: 28th November, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J&K.
The
undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M. No.
31011/3/2014- Estt.(A-1V) dated 26th September, 2014. It has been
decided that the Government servants while availing Leave Travel
Concession (LTC) to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the special
dispensation scheme allowed by the aforesaid O.M. may also travel by
private airlines subject to the following conditions:-
(i) Officers entitled to travel by air may also travel by private airlines from their headquarters;
(ii)
Officers not entitled to travel by air may be permitted to travel by
private airlines between Delhi /Amritsar and any place in J&K.
2. Air travel by private airlines is to be performed in Economy Class only an at LTC-80 fare of Air India or less.
3.
Air Tickets 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.
4. All other conditions prescribed in this Ministry’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2014-Estt.(AIV) dated 26.09.2014 would continue to apply.
5. The order will remain in force for a period of one year from the date of issue of this order.
(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Instructions for processing foreign
visits of officers of the Government of India for approval of Screening
Committee of Secretaries (SCoS)
Clarification on revised comprehensive guidelines/instructions on foreign visit by officers of Government of India
No. 4(4)/E.Coord/2015
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi.
Dated 25th January, 2016.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Instructions for
processing foreign visits of officers of the Government of India for
approval of Screening Committee of Secretaries (SCoS).
This Department has been
receiving references seeking clarification on certain issues with
reference to this Department’s OM of even number dated 05-01-2016 on the
above subject. Accordingly the following clarification is issued
a) Approval of SCoS is not
required in case of foreign visits of upto Joint Secretary level
officers as part of foreign training component, Mid-Career Training
Programme (MCTP) or any other training, irrespective of number of
members and days”.
b) The provision of seeking
approval of Cabinet Secretary for condoning delay in submission of
proposals sent less than 15 days before the date of departure of
delegation has been done away with.
c) Calculation of number of foreign visits in respect of any officer will be with reference to calendar year.
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)
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)
Everyone
knows that Central Government Employees are entitled to avail Leave
Travel Concession (LTC) once in two years to visit home town and once in
four years to visit any places in India. The employees are reimbursed
full expenses for transport from the work station to the place to be
visited and back.
Before the sixth CPC was implemented, availing
of LTC by the employees was less in number all over India. In order to
encourage employees to avail LTC, the Central Government made some
impressive modifications in the rules, which saw a huge increase in the
percentage of employees going for it. The employees were allowed to
travel by air to Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern States and it
continued till June 2015. The modification in the rules that was brought
in was the travelling expenses were given in packages depending upon
employee’s designation. These visits by the employees saw a huge growth
in tourism in these states. It turned out to be a great opportunity for
the employees to travel to these places, to know different people, their
culture and so on. But for unknown reason, the central government did
not extend the orders beyond June 2015.
Home Town LTC: Is it possible to make changes in the Permanent Address of a Central Government Employee?
Those
Central Government Employees having their Hometown on the outskirts of
their work places, are automatically ineligible for availing LTC
Hometown. But they are eligible for the LTC for visiting any other
places in India. For the benefit of those employees, in exceptional
cases, the CCS Rules (LTC) – Change of Hometown – allows an employee to
change the Permanent Address only once in their whole service. The
employee can apply for this, through their respective head of sections
with detailed documents. A male employee can choose the native place of
his wife or vice versa or any other closed relation’s address. Care
should be taken while applying for the changes, as the rule allows only
once in their whole service. After the changes in the permanent address,
the employee can apply for the LTC showing the new address.
Expecting new changes in 7th CPC for availing LTC…
Central
Government Employees should be allowed to avail LTC Home Town once in a
year and All India LTC once in three years which can bring huge changes
in the department of tourism in India. It can motivate the employees to
travel, visit different places, to know different people and their
working conditions etc. Air travelling should be allowed to all other
places in India and can be extended to other neighbouring countries
also.
Air Travel on LTC once in Ten Years to visit foreign countries – West Bengal State Govt Orders issued on 9.10.2015
The state government of West Bengal issued orders on availing of
Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to foriegn countires, such as,
Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan,
Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives…
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL FINANCE DEPARTMENT AUDIT BRANCH
No.7370-F(F)
Dated: 09.10.2015
MEMORANDUM
At present the State Government employees may avail themselves of the
benefit of Leave Travel Concession once in service career during the
period of five years preceding the actual date of retirement on
superannuation for the following kinds of journeys, subject to the
conditions as in this department’s Memo Nos. 9924-F dt. 07.12.2005 and
607 -F dt. 20.01.2006.
1. For journeys to respective home town and back, provided the home town is different from the place of posting; and
2. For journeys to any place of India and back.
The employees who have been duly permitted to retire voluntarily are
also allowed to avail of the above benefit before their such retirement.
The present provisions of admissibility of Leave Travel Concession have been under consideration for review for sometime past.
Now, after careful consideration of the matter, the Governor has been
pleased to decide in partial modification of this department Memo. No.
9924-F dt. 07. 2.2005 read with Memo. No. 607-F dt. 20.01.2006 to allow
the following benefits to the State Government employees instead of
journeys on LTC as mentioned at (2) above.
(a) One Home Travel Concession once in every five years to visit any place within the State;
(b) One LTC once in ten years to visit any place in the
neighbouring countries, namely, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives or within
the Country.
Conditions for admissibility of the same in case the spouse of the Government employee is also employed will be as follows:-
(i) If the spouse of the Government employee is also a State
Government employee, the benefit can be availed of either by husband or
wife as a one family unit and in that case undertaking shall be
submitted by the other that no such claim will be preferred from his/her
office and this should be recorded in his/her Service Book.
(ii) If the spouse of the State Government employee is employed in
Central/Central PSUs/Corporation/Autonomous Body, the benefit can be
availed of either by the husband or wife employed under the State
Government as one family unit from the State Government provided no
benefit of LTC can be availed of by the other from the Central/Central
PSUs/Corporation/ Autonomous Body and in that case letter from
the employer there in this respect that he/she has given such
undertaking there shall be produced before availing of the above
benefit.
(iii) If the spouse of the State Government employee is employed in
the State PSUs/Corporation/Non-Government aided Institutions/Autonomous
Body where facility of LTC does not exist, the spouse of the Government
employee may avail of this benefit along with the Government employee a a
member of the family on the condition that declaration to his/her
controlling authority shall be furnished that in future he/she will not
enjoy the benefit of LTC, if the same is extended in
the organization/institution as above in future.
Other conditions regarding admissibility of the benefit will be as in
Finance Department Nos.9924-F dt. 07.12.2005 and 607-F dt. 20.01.2006.
For the purpose of availing of LTC in foreign countries as mentioned at
SI. No. (b) above, the same can be availed of by air in economy class
from the nearest international airport of the country on the condition
that journeys will have to be performed either by national carrier or
private airlines of the country. The part of the journeys to and from
the airport will be as per provision in the existing orders.
For journeys in the foreign countries as mentioned above orders issued by the P&AR Department are also to be followed.
This will take effect from 01.11.2015.
Sd/-
H. K. Dwivedi
Principal Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal
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.
Dopt issued orders for Central Government employees to permit to
visit to restricted places with their family members by air on LTC
Scheme…
Air Travel Extended for further 2 Years on LTC to visit J&K, NER and A&N effective from 26.9.2014
No. 31011/3/2014-Estt.(A-IV) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: 26th September, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 — Relaxation to travel by air to visit NER and A&N.
The undersigned is directed to say that in relaxation to CCS (LTC)
Rules, 1988, it has been decided by the Government to permit Government
servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER) , Jammu and Kashmir
and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) as per the following scheme
(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place
in NER/ A&N against the conversion of one block of their Home Town
LTC.
Fresh Recruits are also eligible for this benefit against conversion
of one of the three Home Towns in a block of four years applicable to
them.
(ii) Government servants entitled to travel by air can avail this LTC from their Headquarters in Economy class.
(iii) Government servants not entitled to travel by air may be
permitted to travel by air in Economy class in the following sectors:
a. Between Kolkata/ Guwahati and any place in NER
b. Between Kolkata/ Chennai/ Bhubaneswar and Port Blair.
c. Between Delhi / Amritsar and any place in J&K
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.
(iv) Air travel is to be performed by Air India in Economy Class only and at LTC-80 fare or less.
(v) Air travel by non-entitled officers on the sectors mentioned in
item (iii) above may be permitted while availing LTC to any place in
India (4 year Block) also.
(vi) Air Tickets 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.
2. These orders shall be in operation for a period of two years from the date of issue of this O.M.
3. 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 their application to the staff serving in the Indian Audit and
Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
sd/-
(B. Bandyopadhyay)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Clarification regarding purchase of Air Tickets from Authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC – Dopt Orders June 2014
F.No. 31011/4/2014-Estt (A.IV)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: 19th June, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: – Clarification regarding purchase of Air Tickets from Authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC.
The undersigned is directed to refer to the instructions issued
from time to time on the above noted subject and say that the Government
employees are required to book their air tickets 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 & Tour’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent
IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No.31011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dated
02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).
2. In a number of cases, it has been noticed that the aforesaid
instructions are not being followed and as a result various
Ministries/Departments continue to make references to DoPT seeking
relaxation of the conditions for one reason or the other. The most
common reasons given by the employees are unawareness of the rules and
non-availability of Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Ashok Tmvels, M/s
Balmer Lawrie & Company at places where the tickets have been booked
from. Even in such cases, the option of booking directly from the
airlines through their website is available. In no case is the booking
of tickets through any other agency is permissible.
3. All the Ministries/Departments of Government of India are
advised to ensure that their employees are made aware of the above
mentioned guidelines to avoid breach of any of the LTC rules.
4. This issues with the approval of Joint Secretary(E).
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.
Recently,
there were controversies regarding the travel allowances of Members of
the Parliament. Let’s take a look at the actual travel allowance granted
by the Central Government to the MPs:
Members of
the Parliament are given concessions to travel to attend the Parliament
sessions and to participate in the meetings. These to-and-from travel
concessions are given from the usual place of residence of these members
to the Parliament or to the place where the meeting is going to be
held.
Via Train/Airplane: In case of train
journey, charges for one First Class ticket and one Second Class ticket
are given. The concession is given for whatever class the MP travels in.
For
travel via air, 1.5 times the fare is given to the MP. For travel via
road, the member is paid up to Rs. 13 per kilometre. If there is no
direct air-route from the MP’s place of residence to the place where the
Parliamentary session is being held, then the member is given the
option to choose the travel mode that could get him/her to the
destination within a day. The member’s spouse is entitled to accompany
him/her once during the general session and twice during the budget
meetings – adding up to not more than 8 times in a year – to New Delhi
and back, via air/train or by road, from the place of residence.
Free
Train Travel: Each MP and his/her spouse are given special identity
cards that entitle them to travel free of cost, to any part of the
country, by train, in First Class air-conditioned coach. His/her
personal assistant is given identity cards that qualify them for free
travel in Second Class air-conditioned railway coaches. These cards are
valid for the entire tenure of the Member of Parliament.
8
trips via Air: Each year, the Member of Parliament is entitled, either
with his/her spouse, assistants, or with relatives, to make 34 trips by
airplane to any part of the country. The spouse or assistant can make 8
trips by air to meet the Member of Parliament. In case of physically
challenged Members of Parliaments, the personal assistant is allowed to
travel with him/her constantly. Members of Parliament are entitled to
many such benefits and allowances.
Everyone
knows that Central Government Employees are entitled to avail Leave
Travel Concession (LTC) once in two years to visit home town and once in
four years to visit any places in India. The employees are reimbursed
full expenses for transport from the work station to the place to be
visited and back.
