Book LTC tickets on lowest fare or face action: Govt to staff

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.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees.