Relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC

Clarification regarding relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC.

 

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

No. 43020/21 2016-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-110001
Dated: February 19, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Clarification regarding relaxation of purchase of air tickets from authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s o.M. No. 31011/412014- Estt.A-IV dated 19.06.2014 and subsequent o.M. regarding the procedure for booking of air-tickets on LTC and to say that as per the extant instructions, whenever a Government servant claims LTC by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the services of the 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 O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).

Also check: LTC for New Joining Central Government Employees - FAQ

2. In this regard, many cases pertaining to the period of 2010-13 have been reported in this Department where Government employees had traveled on LTC by air to visit Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and North-East Region (NER) under the special dispensation scheme after booking the tickets through private travel agents due to lack of awareness of rules at that time. It has been observed that claims of these Government servants were initially settled by the administrative authorities. However, after few years when the audit authorities noticed the lapses, objections were raised on these claims and recoveries were ordered in such cases along with charging of penal interest. In view of the financial hardships caused to these individuals, huge demands are being received from Ministries/ Departments and JCM for grant of one time relaxation in these cases.

The matter has been considered in this Department in consultation with Joint consultative Machinery - staff side and Department of Expenditure. It has been decided to grant one time relaxation to such Government employees who had availed LTC by air to visit J&K and NER during the period of January. 2010 - June. 2014 and booked the tickets through travel agents other than ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & company’, ‘M/s Ashok travels & Tours’ and 'IRCTC' due to lack of awareness of rules. such relaxation shall be granted with the concurrence of Financial Advisor of the concerned Ministry/ Department. Fulfillment of fare limit of LTC-80 and other LTC conditions prevalent at the time of performance of journey by the Government servants may be ascertained before granting such relaxations. The Administrative Ministries/ Departments shall also ensure that only those cases are considered for relaxation where it is established that bonafide mistake has occured and no undue benefit has accrued to/obtained by the Government servant.

Further, in this regard, it is reiterated that the extant instructions regarding booking of air tickets on LTC journey through authorized modes should be strictly complied with. It is seen that despite reiterating the above provisions from time to time, this Department is still in receipt of cases seeking relaxation for booking of tickets from private travel agents on the grounds of lack of awareness of rules and work-exigencies. Therefore, Ministries/ Departments are again advised to ensure wide circulation of this Department’s instructions issued vide O.M. No. 310111212018-Estt.A-IV dated 10.12.2018, among their employees. Henceforth, the cases seeking relaxation on the plea of lack of awareness of rules and on grounds of exigencies of work shall not be considered by this Department. Only those cases, where the Administrative Ministry/ Department will certify the fact that bonafide mistake has occured and undue hardship is being caused to the Government servant, shall be considered by this Department.

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

To
The Secretaries
All Ministries/ Departments of Government of India
(As per the standard list)

Latest DoPT Orders 2020 - Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

Latest DoPT Orders 2020

Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

F.No.11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-Ill Desk

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated 18th February, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even no. dated 28.03.2018 prescribing the guidelines for grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport. The guidelines have been reviewed by this Department in consultation with Central Vigilance Commission and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Also check: Dopt Orders on vigilance clearance for promotion

2. MEA has also issued the guidelines for issuance of ordinary Passport to the Government servants vide O.M. No. VI/401/01/05/2014 dated 26.05.2015, wherein procedures to be followed in this regard have been prescribed.

3. In view of the above, it is mandatory for the administrative Department /Controlling Authority to check as to whether any provision of the Section 6(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 is attracted in case of employees, who are working under them, while obtaining Indian Passport. As such, it is required to check the vigilance clearance of such Government servants.

4. Accordingly, it has been decided that vigilance clearance can be withheld only under the following circumstances:

• The officer is under suspension;
• Charge sheet has been filed in a Court by the Investigating Agency in a criminal case or after grant of sanction by the Competent Authority under PC Act or any other criminal matter and taken cognizance of by the Court of Law.

5. All Ministries / Departments / Offices are requested to bring the above guidelines to the notice of all Disciplinary Authorities under their control.

Also check: Revised Rotational Transfer Policy applicable to CSS officers - Latest DoPT Orders 2020 January 27, 2020

6. This OM is issued in supersession of this Department’s earlier OM. No. 11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III dated 28th March, 2018.

7. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(Umesh Kumar Bhatia)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Click to view the Dopt Order

MoD - Engagement of Consultant at the level of Section officer and Private Secretary in Ministry of Defence

MoD: Engagement of Consultant at the level of Section officer and Private Secretary in Ministry of Defence

Personnel engaged as Consultant will be paid a monthly remuneration of Rs.28,000/- in case of officers retired in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4,800 (pre-revised) / Level 8 and Rs. 31,500/- in the case of officers retired in the Grade Pay of Rs. 5,400 (pre-revised)/ Level-10.

No. A-19020/01/2020-D(Estt.I/Gp.I)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
D(Est.I/Gp.I)

Room No. 315, 'B'Wing, Sena Bhawan
New Delhi, dated 17th February, 2020

CIRCULAR

It is proposed to engage retired personnel at the level of Section Officer and Private Secretary as Consultant in the Ministry of Defence (Sectt.) purely on temporary basis, as per Ministry's guidelines dated 12.09.2012 and as amended from time to time. Officers retired from Ministry of Defence will be given preference.

Personnel engaged as Consultant will be paid a monthly remuneration of Rs.28,000/- in case of officers retired in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4,800 (pre-revised) / Level 8 and Rs. 31,500/- in the case of officers retired in the Grade Pay of Rs. 5,400 (pre-revised)/ Level-10.

Officers who have retired at the level of Section Officer and Private Secretary and who are less than the age of 64 years as on 31.03.2020 may furnish their application to D(Est.I/Gp.I) Section, Room No.315,'B' Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi on or before 09.03.2020. Application received after due date not be entertained.

(Ajay Kumar Gaur)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt of India

Encl:
i. Application Form
ii. Guidelines dated 12.09.2012
iii. Amendment to Guidelines dated 31.03.2014; 06.07.2015 and 27.08.2019

Download Order: MoD