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-Il)
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.

2. 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 lndia
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

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

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

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 27th February,2018

Office Memorandum

Sub: 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 havel 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 lndia

View order

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FAQ on LTC for Fresh Recruits

Frequently Asked Questions on LTC entitlements of Fresh Recruit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Leave Travel Concession entitlements of Fresh Recruit

The 6th CPC had recommended that “Fresh Recruits” to the Central Government may be allowed to travel to their Home Town along with their families on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion. This was accepted by the Government and orders were issued vide DoPT O.M. No. 31011/4/2008-Estt.(A) dated 23rd September, 2008.

This Department receives a number of references seeking clarifications from various Ministry/ Departments about the year wise LTC entitlements of Fresh Recruits. Based on the same, a set of frequently asked questions have been answered as under:

Question 1. What are the LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit?
Answer: Fresh recruits to the Central Government are allowed to travel to their home town along with their families on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion. This facility shall be available to the fresh recruits only for the first two blocks of four years applicable after joining the Government for the first time.

Question 2. How are the two blocks of four years applied to the Fresh Recruit?
Answer: The first two blocks of four years shall apply with reference to the initial date of joining the Government service even though the Govt. servant may change the job within the Government subsequently. However, as per Rule 7 of CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the LTC entitlement of a fresh recruit will be calculated calendar year wise with effect from the date of completion of one year of regular service.

Question 3. Are the LTC blocks of four years in respect of Fresh Recruits same as the regular blocks like 2010-13, 2014-17?
Answer: No. The first two blocks of four years of fresh recruits will be personal to them. On completion of eight year of LTC, they will be treated at par with other regular LTC beneficiaries as per the prescribed blocks like 2014-17, 2018-21 etc.

Question 4. If a fresh recruit does not avail LTC facility in a particular year, can he/she avail it in the next year?
Answer: No. Carryover of LTC to the next year is not allowed in case of a fresh recruit as he is already entitled to every year LTC. Hence, if a fresh recruit does not avail of the LTC facility in any year, his LTC will deem to have lapsed with the end of that year.

Question 5. How will the LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit be exercised after the completion of eight years of service?
Answer: (a) After the completion of eight years of service, when the next LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of the second two year block (eg. 2016-17) of the running four year block (2014-17), he will be eligible only for ‘Home Town’ LTC if he/she has availed ‘Any Place in India’ LTC in the eighth year. Cases, where the new LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the second year of the running two year block (ex. 2017 of 2016-2017), he will not be eligible for LTC in that year. Refer illustrations 1 & 3 for further explanation. (b) At the end of the eighth year of LTC, when the new LTC cycle of a fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of a regular four year block, his entitlement in the regular block will be exercised as per the usual LTC Rules. Refer illustration 2.

Question 6. How will the LTC entitlement computed in case of a fresh recruit joining the service on 31st December of any year?
Answer: A fresh recruit who joins the Government service on 31st December of any year, will be eligible for LTC w.e.f. 31st December of next year. Since, 31st December is the last date of a calendar year, his first occasion of LTC ends with that year. Hence, he may avail his first Home Town LTC on the last day of that year. From next year onwards he would be eligible for the remaining seven LTCs. Refer illustration 3.

Question 7. How will the entitlements of a fresh recruit be computed who has joined the Govt. service before 01.09.2008?
Answer: A fresh recruit who has joined Government service before 01.09.2008 (i.e before the introduction of this scheme) and has not completed his first eight years of service as on 01.09.2008 will be eligible for this concession for the remaining time-period till the completion of first eight years of his/ her service. Refer illustration 4.

Question 8. Can a fresh recruit whose Home Town and Headquarters are same, avail LTC to Home Town?
Answer: No. A fresh recruit whose Home Town and Headquarters are same, cannot avail LTC to Home Town. He may avail LTC to any place in India on the fourth and eighth occasion only. As per Rule 8 of CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, LTC to Home Town shall be admissible irrespective of the distance between the Headquarters of the Govt. servant and his Home Town which implies that Headquarters and Home Town should be at different places.

Illustration 1:

An employee joins the Government service on 1st September, 2008. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 1st September, 2009 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India would be as under:

Explanation
1.After the completion of the first eight years, when the fresh recruit gets into the middle of the running regular block of four calendar years (ex. 2014-2017) where the new LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the second year of the running two year block (ex. 2017 of 2016-2017), he will not be eligible for LTC in that year (i.e. 2017).
2.It can be seen from above that LTC entitlement for a fresh recruit is calculated calendar year wise with effect from the date of completion of one year of regular service.
Illustration 2:
An employee joins the Government service on 1st January, 2009. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 1st January, 2010 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under:

1.A the end of the eighth year of LTC, when the new LTC cycle of a fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of a regular four year block, his entitlement in the regular block will be exercised as per the usual LTC Rules.Explanations:
Illustration 3:
An employee joins the Government service on 31st December, 2011. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 31st December, 2012 (i.e. after completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under:

Explanations:
i. A fresh recruit who joins on 31st December of any year, will be eligible for LTC w.e.f. 31st December of next year. Since, 31st December is the last date of that calendar year, his first occasion of LTC ends with that year. Hence, he may avail his first home town LTC on that day only (eg. 31st December, 2012). From next year onwards he will be eligible for the remaining seven LTCs.
ii. After the completion of eight years of service, when the next LTC cycle of fresh recruit coincides with the beginning of the second two year block (eg. 2020-21) of the running four year block (2018-21), he will be eligible only for the ‘Home Town’ LTC in that block if he has availed of ‘Any Place in India’ LTC in the eighth year. In case, the fresh recruit forgoes his eighth year LTC, then he has a choice to avail either ‘Any Place in India’ or ‘Home Town’ LTC in the following two year block (i.e. in 2020-21).
Illustration 4:
An employee joins the Government service on 10th May, 2006. As per the CCS (LTC) Rules, he will become eligible for LTC with effect from 10th May, 2007 (i.e. after the completion of one year of regular service). His entitlement for Home Town / All India LTC would be as under:

Explanations:
A fresh recruit who has joined the Government service before 01.09.2008 (i.e. before the introduction of this scheme) and has not completed his first eight years of service as on 01.09.2008 will be eligible for this concession for the remaining time-period till the completion of first eight years of his/ her service.
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Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) 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) 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

View order

Authority: https://dopt.gov.in/

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Admissibility of air fare for children below the age of 5 years of the Government servants non-entitled to travel by air on LTC

No.31011/3/2016-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block New Delhi
Dated May 16, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Admissibility of air fare for children below the age of 5 years of the Government servants non-entitled to travel by air on LTC — clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to Department of Personnel & Training’s O.M. No. 31011/2/2006-Estt.A dated 24.4.2006, 21.05.2007 and 03.12.2007 which stipulates that a non-entitled Government servant is allowed to travel by air while availing LTC provided that the reimbursement made in such cases is restricted to the train fare of entitled class. In this regard, it may be noted that while no fare is charged by Railways for a child below the age of 5 years travelling by train, airlines charge full air fare for child of 2 years of age and above.

Check also: Revised Child Fare Rule for Train Journey

2. This Department is in receipt of references from various Ministries/Departments seeking clarification on reimbursement of LTC claim in a situation where a child of a non-entitled Government servant, aged less than 5 years, travels by air on LTC and entitled train fare is claimed by that Government employee in respect of his/her child.

3. The matter has been examined and it is clarified that since children below the age of 5 years are not charged for rail journeys, no reimbursement shall be made in respect of the air journey performed by children, aged less than 5 years, of the Government servants who are not entitled to travel by air on LTC. It may be noted that this provision shall not be applicable for the segments where the air journey has been allowed to the non-entitled Government servants and their families under the special dispensation scheme, existent from time to time.

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

Authority: http://utilities.cept.gov.in

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“Some instances where some Government servants colluded with private travel agents to submit LTC claims showing inflated airfare to clandestinely obtain undue benefits like free boarding/lodging/transport of cash refunds have come to notice of the Government.”

Irregularities and misuse in availing Leave Travel Concession Guidelines to be followed

No.31011/3/2013-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 July 12, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Irregularities and misuse in availing Leave Travel Concession Guidelines to be followed.

The undersigned is directed to enclose a copy of draft O.M.on the subject noted above for comments within 15 days to the undersigned (email address:jha.sn@nic.in)

sd/-
(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under secretary to the Government of India

No.31011/3/2013-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: ,2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Irregularities and misuse in availing Leave Travel Concession – Guidelines to be followed.

The undersigned is directed to say that some instances where some Government servants colluded with private travel agents to submit LTC claims showing inflated airfare to clandestinely obtain undue benefits like free boarding/lodging/transport of cash refunds have come to notice of the Government.

2. In order to curb these malpractices the following steps may be taken:

(i) As per instructions reiterated from time to time, in all cases whenever a Govt. Servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets either directly through 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’. Proposals from different Ministries/Departments for relaxation continue to be received on the plea that the Government servant was not aware of this requirement. Vide the OM dated No.31011/3/2015-Estt (A.IV) dated 18th February, 2016 detailed guidelines on submission and processing of claims were circulated These guidelines are required to be made available to Government servants whenever they apply for LTC. Plea of ignorance of the instructions therefore cannot be used by such Government Servants.

The nodal Ministries of M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co. (Ministry of petroleum and Natural Gas), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (Ministry of Tourism) and IRCTC (Ministry of Railways) shall issue instructions to these organisations to ensure compliance to the instructions issues vide O.M.dated 18th February, 2016 on issue of air tickets. Any violation of these instructions shall invite blacklisting.

(ii) Vide the Department of Expenditure’s O.M.No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 04.03.2011, it was clarified that reimbursement of air fare lower than LTC-80 fare of Air India is admissible for the journey(s) performed by Air India under LTC-80. LTC-80 fare is to be used as the ceiling beyond which no claim will be entertained. It has now been decided that in accordance with the canons of financial propriety, Government servants should purchase tickets at the lowest rate available at the time of booking for the date and time of scheduled journey. Government servant will be required to submit the print out of the tickets showing date and time of booking in addition to the fare charged. It may, however, be kept in mind that in some cases of cancellation/rescheduling, a refund fee may be applicable. This will be borne by the employee unless the journey had to be rescheduled/cancelled due to exigencies of work. The Authority which has approved the LTC will have the powers to cancel or reschedule it.

(iii) While submitting the LTC claim after completion of the LTC journey, the Govt. Servant will be required to submit a self-certificate on plain paper as follows:

(1) I certify that the airfare claimed by me is in respect of the fare charged by the Airline for the air journey only and does not include any charges for any facility/undue benefit including boarding/lodging/local transport.

(2) I also certify that I have booked the ticket at the lowest fare available for the destination at the time of booking for the scheduled date and time of departure. I am aware that suppression of any information or furnishing wrong information will render me liable to disciplinary action.

3. The Administrative Ministries/Department may also from time to time do random checks from airlines whether the tickets were booked at the lowest fare available on that date. Attention of the Ministries/Departments is also invited to Rule 3(1)(i) of the Central Civil services (conduct) Rules, 1964 which requires the Government servants to maintain absolute integrity at all times. In addition, cheating/fraud also attract various sections of the India Penal code 1860. Ministries/Departments should therefore not hesitate to take severe action against employees guilty of deliberate malpractices, particularly in collusion with travel agents etc.

4. All the Ministries/Departments of Government of India are requested to bring the contents of this O.M. to the notice of all concerned.

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under secretary to the Government of India.

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