Relaxation of purchase of air tickets from other than authorized travel agent for the purpose of LTC – NCJCM
No.NC-JCM-2020/DOPT(LTC)
March 2, 2020
The Secretary,Government of India,
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001,
Subject: Grant of One Time
Relaxation to the Central Government Employees who have availed LTC-80
and travelled by purchasing ticket from authorities other than
authorized agents.
Reference: DOP&T OM No. 43020/2/2016-Estt.(A.IV) 19th February, 2020
Dear Sir,
We thankfully acknowledge the receipt of
the above mentioned DOP&T clarifications issued regarding
relaxation of purchase of air tickets from other than authorized travel
agent for the purpose of LTC. You are aware this issue was raised by the
Staff Side in the Standing Committee Meeting held under your
Chairmanship on 07,03,2019 and also in the meeting of the National
Council KM) held under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary on 13th
April, 2019. The relevant portion of the minutes of the meeting is given
below for your kind ready reference.
Extract from the minutes of the Stand in of the National Council JCIVI Committee Meeting held on 07.03.2019.
“viii) Item No, 15: Grant of One Time
Relaxation to the Central Government Employees who have availed LTC-80
and travelled by air by purchasing ticket from authorities other than
authorized agents :
Staff Side proposed that (a) If the
employee has actually travelled in Air India flight, then the LTC-80 Are
of the journey day may be paid to him irrespective of the fact that
ticket was purchased, from authorized Agent or not. Any excess amount
over and above the LTC-80 fare can be recovered. (b) No disciplinary
action and stoppage of future LTC may be taken (c) A general instruction
in this regard may be issued to all the Departments to regularize all
the pending LTC-80 cases as above.
Chairman agreed to consider the demand of the Staff Side.”
Extract from the minutes from the 47th Meeting of the National Council, (JCM) held on 13th April, 2019..
Extract from the minutes from the 47th Meeting of the National Council, (JCM) held on 13th April, 2019..
“5.7 Regarding LTC-80 cases, there are
instances where huge amount is deducted from employees, especially in
various Defence Establishments under MoD from the funds released to them
on retirement as terminal benefits on the ground that these employees
have travelled in private airlines and also the employees who have
travelled in Air India Flight have purchased Flight Tickets .from mother
than authorized agents. The demand of the Staff Side for granting One
Time exemption to such cases is still pending with DOP&T this is a
serious matter since as per Supreme Court directions, no recovery should
be made from the employees at the time of retirement. It is requested
that the DOP&T may grant One Time Exemption to all such cases.
especially in the case of those employees who are otherwise not entitled
for flight for settlement of all such LTC-80 cases as a One Time
measure.”
Apart from the above this Office has
made several correspondences in the past. In the above mentioned
DOP&T Instructions only the LTC by Air visit to Jammu and Kashmir
and North East Region is only covered. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(A&N) is not covered. Moreover, the period mentioned is only from
January, 2010 – June, 2014. Due to this restriction the employees who
have availed LTC for visiting A&N and have purchased tickets from
other than authorized agents will not be getting the benefit of
relaxation. Moreover, the benefit of LTC to visit A&N was extended
only during the year 2014 vide DOP&T OM dated 26th September, 2014.
Therefore, the employees who have availed LTC to A&N by purchasing
air ticket from other than authorized agents during the Year 2014 and
2015 are also left out. The Authorities in the Departments have now
started recovery action from these employees. Therefore, to settle this
issue / outstanding grievance once for all we propose the following for
your favourable consideration.
1) One Time Relaxation to such
Government Employees who had availed LTC by air to visit J&K A&N
and NER during the period of January, 2010 – December, 2015 and booked
the air tickets through the travel agents other than ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie
& Company’, M/s. Ashok Travels & Tours’ and IRCTC, due to lack
of awareness of Rules.
2) Such relaxation may be granted by the
Head of the Department with the concurrence of their Financial Advisor,
instead of the concerned Ministry / Department to avoid further delay
in settling the matter.
3) In the mean time till the relaxation
is obtained no recovery should be made from the serving / retired
employees, and after the grant of One Time Relaxation the recovery
already made should be refunded to the concerned employees retired
employees.
4) No disciplinary action should be taken against the concerned employees.
5) Wherever the air fare claimed by, the
employees is less than LTC-80 slab in such cases the ease may be
straight away settled without waiting for any relaxation.
6) Insistence of Bonafide Certificate by
the Ministry/Department provision may be deleted from the instructions
so that the outstanding cases are settled in a time bound manner and to
avoid further complications.
Sir. we request you to consider the
above request of ours and to issue necessary instructions as above so
that the issue is permanently resolved and the innocent employees who
became the victims of such unauthorized agents are relieved from the
present financial and mental hardship.
A copy of your instruction may please be endorsed to this Federation.
Thanking you.
Yours Sincerely,
(SHIVA GOPAL MISHRA)
Secretary
Signed CopySecretary