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

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

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

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&K and A&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