LTC Claims – Need for observing prescribed procedures
F. No. 31011/3/2015-Estt (A-IV)
Ministry of Personnel, Pensions & Public Grievances
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk
*****
North Block, New Delhi
Dated April 1, 2015
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:-
LTC Claims — Need for observing prescribed procedures
This Department receives a large number of recommendations for
relaxation of some or the other provision of the Central Civil Services
(Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988, (hereinafter referred to as LTC
Rules), in individual cases. It is seen that, in most cases the
situation arises are due care had not been exercised by the Government
servant and/or the administrative authority in claiming LTC or in
examination.
2. The references mainly relate to:
a) Late submission of claims;
b) Booking of air tickets through an agency not authorised by the Government for this purpose;
c) Travel by private vehicles; and
d) Claims for wrong block of years.
3. In this connection it may please be noted that the primary
responsibility for ensuring compliance with the rules is that of the
Government servant. The of-repeated plea of ignorance of rules cannot be
a valid ground for relaxation of rules. At the same time it has also
been noticed that the administrative authorities have also shown laxity
and due diligence on their part could have prevented such situations
from arising.
4. Late Submission of Claim
4.1 In terms of Rules 14 and 15(v i) of LTC Rules, the time limit for submission of LTC claim is :
i) Within three months of completion of return journey, if no advance is drawn;
ii) Within one month of completion of return journey, if advance is drawn.
Powers have been delegated, as under, to the ministries/Departments to
relax these limits with the concurrence of the Financial Advisor.
a) Upto 6 months, if no advance is drawn;
b) Upto 3 months if advance is drawn, provided the Government servant
refunds the entire amount of advance (not merely the unutilised portion)
within 45 days of completion of return journey.
4.2 As per Rule 12(a) of the ‘Compendium of Rules on Advances to
Government Servants’, it is the responsibility of the Head of Office to
effect recovery of advances and also to see that the conditions attached
to each advance are fulfilled. The Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO)
is required to keep a watch on the advances and furnish monthly
statements to the AP&AO. In addition, the DDO is also required to
adjust all outstanding short term advances at the close of financial
year.
5. Booking of air tickets through agents other than Government approved agents
5.1 Government servants travelling by air under LTC are required to
book their tickets either directly from the airline or through the
approved agencies viz: M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd/ M/s Ashok Tours
& Travels Ltd/IRCTC. Booking through any other agency is
not permissible.
6. Travel by private vehicles.
6.1 As per LTC rules, a Government servant may travel only by
vehicles operated by Central/State Government or local bodies or by any
corporation in the public sector owned/controlled by Central/State
Government. Journey on LTC by taxi, auto-rickshaw etc, are permissible
only between places not connected by rail. This is further subject to
the condition that these modes operate on a regular basis from point to
point with the specific approval of the State Governments/transport
authorities concerned and are authorised to ply as public carriers.
7. Claims for wrong block of years
7.1 Whenever a Government servant applies for LTC advance, the
administrative authority is required to verify from the service book and
certify the entitlement of the Government servant. Cases of the type
mentioned in para 2(d) would not arise if this is properly done.
8. LTC Rules also provide that a government servant who has been
granted LTC Advance is required to submit copies of the tickets within
10 days of drawal of advance. The administrative authority can at this
stage itself check the date of commencement of journey;
whether ticket has been booked direct from airline or through approved
agency etc. Any discrepancy can be brought to the notice of the
government servant so that he can take remedial action, if needed.
9. Even in cases where advance is not drawn, the Government servant is
required to give prior intimation of his intention to avail LTC. The
administrative authority can check the details indicated especially
w.r.t entitlement. A watch can also be kept to ensure timely submission
of claims.
10. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of
this O.M. to the notice of all concerned. It may also be noted that
requests for relaxation of rules shall be considered by this Department
only if it is established that the deviation is due to reasons beyond
the control of the Government servant and there has been no laxity on
the part of the administrative authorities concerned.
(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Director (Establishment)
Te1:23093176
To
The Secretaries
All Ministries/Departments (As per standard list)
Source:
www.persmin.gov.in
