DoPT working on simplifying LTC rules

These are some of the changes the Centre has decided to make in the relevant rules for availing leave travel concession (LTC).

All LTC claims will be settled in a maximum of one-month’s time, as per the new rules. An additional ten days will be given to settle dues related to LTC travels by an employee in case he is posted away from the headquarters.

“Employees may be encouraged to share interesting insights and pictures, if any, of the destination he or she visited while availing LTC on an appropriate forum,” the rules finalised by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said. Besides, they will be exempted from informing their controlling officers before going on holiday and a self-certification from them would suffice.

“Sometimes, the government servants claim that failure to follow the correct procedure was on account of a lack of knowledge of the rules or instructions while in the other cases the delay is caused in the late processing of LTC claims.

“To remove these bottlenecks, this department has decided to simplify the procedure of application and make the procedure of processing of LTC claims time-bound,” the DoPT said.

In the new guidelines, the DoPT will be reminding government officials entitled to travel by air that they “are required to travel by Air India only in economy class” unless permitted to do so by any general or specific provision.

“Officers not entitled to travel by air may travel by any airlines, however, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train or actual expense, whichever is less,” it said.

In all cases whenever a government servant travels by air, he or she is required to book the air tickets either directly through the airlines or through the approved travel agencies - M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd, M/s Ashok Tours and Travels Ltd, IRCTC. Booking of tickets through any other agency is not permissible, the DoPT said.

Travel on tour packages is not allowed, except in the case of tours conducted by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), it said in the new policy which is likely to be fine-tuned further on the basis of feedback received from others.

It has been decided that whenever a government servant applies for LTC, he or she may be provided with a copy of the 17-point guidelines which needs to be followed while availing LTC.