LTC – babus can fly
Government is all about clarifications for 64 paise and spending Rs. 64 Crores on what the clarifications really meant. As per a 2006 circular, babus were allowed to travel by private airlines while on LTC, subject to the condition that the reimbursement of the fare would be restricted to the entitled class by rail other than Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express. Now the Government has gone liberal and now it has been decided that the reimbursement may also be given at the rates applicable for Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains, This will be allowed ifthe Government servant is entitled to it and the headquarter of the Government servant/permissible place of commencement of journey and the home town/destination under All India LTC is directly connected by the above mentioned trains and two stations between which the air travel has been performed are connected by Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains.
In case the fare paid for the air ticket on LTC is less than the fare being charged for Rajdhani/Shatabdi type trains, the reimbursement would be limited to the actual expenditure.
All pending cases may be settled accordingly in terms of this order.
However, past cases already settled will not be re-opened.
Lalu is certainly not going to be happy!
OFFICE MEMORANDUM in No.31011/2/2006-Estt.(A) Dated: May 21, 2007