PTI | Jul 18, 2016,
New Delhi, Jul 18 () Employees who
fail to buy air tickets at the lowest price available on the day while
undertaking journey on Leave Travel Concession (LTC) claim will face severe
penal action, as per the draft guidelines finalised by the Centre.
The move comes after the government
noticed instances where some of its employees colluded with private travel
agents to submit LTC claims showing inflated airfare to clandestinely obtain
undue benefits like free boarding, lodging, transport or cash refunds.
The Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) is also looking into cases of alleged irregularities in availing the LTC
claims.
The ministries concerned will also
carry out random checks with airlines to ensure that the tickets were booked at
the lowest fare available on the date of purchase.
"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 print-out of tickets showing date and time of booking in
addition to the fare charged," the new guidelines drafted by the
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.
Any violation of the existing norms
by authorised travel agents -- M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok
Travels & Tours and IRCTC -- will invite blacklisting.
A government employee gets
reimbursement of tickets for to-and-fro journey, in addition to leaves, when he
avails LTC.
