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Bhubaneswar: In a major decision which will benefit Central Government employees, the Centre has decided to grant one-time relaxation for reimbursement of the cancellation charges for air/train tickets meant for their Leave Travel Concession (LTC) due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) recently issued Office Memorandum (OM) in this regard.

The office memorandum was issued after the department received several requests by the employees for extension of time limit for settlement of LTC advance and exemption of penal interest till such journey is performed by them.

It is pertinent to mention here that all domestic flights within India were cancelled after a nationwide lockdown was imposed March-May 2020 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

During the lockdown, several airlines have charged the cancellation charges against the pre-book air tickets. Hence, in many cases, several government employees who had booked LTC tickets in advance for that period are facing financial hardship in view of the high cancellation amount charged by the airlines.

Besides, it was observed that many airlines have not refunded the ticket amount booked in advance for the LTC journey scheduled during the lockdown period. These airlines have kept the booking amount with them in the form of ‘credit shell’ and have given the option to the passengers to travel within a year.

Such decision caused resentment among the employees as LTC advance along with penal interest, is required to be returned if the journey is not undertaken.

Following the requests, the DoPT has issued the Office Memorandum (OM) stating:

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 cancellation/ rescheduling of flights/ trains during that period. Such government servants seeking 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 28.02.2021 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.

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)