LTC Purchase of an airline ticket from an unofficial travel agent – CGDA Clarification

Purchase of Air Ticket

CGDA – For LTC, Air tickets must be purchased directly from airlines (at booking counters or on the airlines’ websites) or by registered travel agents.

Controller General of Defence Accounts
Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt – 110010
(IFA Wing)

Dated 30.03.2021

Instruction Order No. 05 of 2021

To
All PIFAs/SAG level IFAs
(Through CGDA Website/SIFA)

Sub: Clarification regarding relaxation for purchase of Air Ticket from an unauthorized Travel agent for the purpose of LTC.

In terms of Ministry of Finance OM No. 19024/1/2009/E.IV dated 16 Sep 2016 (copy enclosed), Air tickets are compulsory to be booked directly from Airlines (Booking counters, website of Airlines) or by utilizing the services of authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours, and IRCTC.

Reimbursement of cancellation/ reschedule charges for air/ train tickets booked for the purpose of LTC and relaxation of LTC advance due to COVID-19 pandemic – relaxation

2. DOP&T vide their OM No. 43020/2/2016/Estt (A.IV) dated 19 Feb 2020 has granted one-time relaxation to such Govt. employees who had availed LTC by air to visit J&K and NER during January 2010 to June 2014 and booked the tickets through travels agents other than authorized, due to the lack of awareness of rules. Such relaxation has been granted to the concerned individual after he/she has obtained the concurrence of the Financial Adviser of the concerned Ministry/Department.
3. Since the powers to grant relaxation to travel by airlines other than Air India were delegated by MoD to PIFAs/IFAs, not below the level of SAG vide OMs No. 34/PCPA/Cor/ Fin/MO/2016 dated 14.06.2016 and 21.06.2016 and accordingly HQrs IFA Wing Instruction Order No. 08 dated 2016 and subsequent amendments issued time to time, PIFAs and all SAG level IFAs (Dedicated/Nominated) will also deal with the aforesaid cases relating to officers/officials including Defence Civilian Officers/ officials posted in the units/formation falling under the jurisdiction the said PIFAs/SAG level IFA offices.
4. Ministry of Defence (Fin) has advised that IFAs, being representatives of MoD (Fin) scrutinize such proposals received in their offices strictly in terms of aforesaid DOP&T OM dated 19.02.2020 so that only justified cases are submitted for the kind consideration of FA(DS).

This issues with the approval of Addl. CGDA (Finance).

Encl: As above.

(Richa Gupta)
Dy. CGDA (Fin)