Centre will give one time reimbursement/rescheduling charges paid by those employees who were made to pay cancellation charges for air/train tickets.
In a good news for central government employees, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has decided to give one time reimbursement/rescheduling charges paid by those employees who were made to pay cancellation charges for air/train tickets meant for their Leave Travel Concession (LTC) due to coronavirus outbreak.
1. DoPT OM regarding LTC
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A Office Memorandum (OM) has been released by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) regarding this 7th Pay Commission linked LTC allowance.
2. What DoPT OM said?
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According to DoPT, a nation-wide lockdown was implemented across the country during March-May, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. It is to be noted that all domestic flights were cancelled during this period.
3. Some airlines charged cancellation charges
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Though all the domestic flights were cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdown, some airlines have charged the cancellation charges against the pre-booked air tickets. This is the reason why many central government employees who had booked LTC tickets in advance for that period are facing financial difficulties due to the cancellation amount charged by the airlines. DoPT said that it has received several requests in this regard for grant of one-time relaxation for reimbursement of the cancellation charges.
4. Many airlines have not refunded ticket amount
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According to DoPT OM, many airlines have not refunded the ticket amount for the air tickets booked in advance for the LTC journey which was falling between during COVID-19 lockdown. The OM added that the booking amount was kept by many airlines in the form of 'credit shell' and the passengers were given the option to travel within a year.
5. Hardships for central government employees
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The DoPT OM said that several central government employees are facing hardship as they need to return LTC advance along with penal interest if the journey is not undertaken.
6. Request of central government employees
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Several central government employees have requested for extension of time-limit for settlement of LTC advance and exemption of penal interest.
7. DoPT's reply to central government employees
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DoPT's message to central government employees
1] Ministries/Departments are delegated the power to reimburse the cancellation/ reschedule charges of air/train tickets, as a one-time relaxation, to such Government servants who had booked advance air/train tickets for the purpose of LTC journey during the Lockdown period from 24th March, 2020 to 31st May, 2020 but were not able to perform the journey due to cancellation/rescheduling of flights/trains during that period. Such government servants seeking (Satish Kumar) Under Secretary to the Government of India reimbursement of cancellation! reschedule charges shall be required to produce the receipt of cancellation/reschedule charges incurred by them.
2] In cases where the airlines have kept the refund amount in 'Credit Shell', Ministries /Departments may extend the period of repayment of LTC advance taken by the Government servant for LTC journey scheduled during the lockdown period(March-May, 2020), till 28.02.202 1 or till such time the amount in 'Credit Shell' is utilised by the Government servant to perform LTC journey, whichever is earlier. Also, penal interest may not be charged on LTC advance amount taken by the Government servant on LTC journey scheduled during the lockdown period.
3] In cases where the Government servants have drawn LTC advance as well as leave encashment so as to perform the LTC journey, but could not perform journey during the lockdown period and now intend to opt for Special Cash Package Scheme in lieu of LTC in accordance with Department of Expenditure's OM No. 12(2)/2020-E.II(A) dated 12.10.2020, they are also allowed to avail the facility of the Scheme. The LTC advance and leave encashment which have remained unsettled due to non-performance of the journey, may be adjusted as per the provisions of the Special Cash Package Scheme.
