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).
(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under secretary to
the Government of India
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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. From Pre-Page:
(iii)
(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
