Port Blair, Aug 23: The Andaman & Nicobar Gazetted Officers’ Association appreciates the decision of the Govt. of India, Department of Personnel & Training, New Delhi to exempt the non-entitled government servants travelling by Air on LTC from the condition of booking the air tickets through authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC, etc.
The Department of Personnel & Training, Govt. of India, in response to seeking clarification whether the condition of booking the tickets through authorized travel agents needs to be followed in cases where a non-entitled government servant travels by air on LTC and claims the entitled train fare, has now vide their Office Memorandum dated 21st August, 2017, clarified that “in case of non-entitled government servants travelling by air on LTC and claiming entitled rail fare, the condition of booking the air tickets through authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC may not be insisted upon.” Considering the poor internet connectivity in these islands, the instant decision of the Govt. of India will be a great relief to hundreds of government employees working in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, particularly those who are posted at various outstations, who undertake journey by air on LTC every year.
The Association also appreciates the decision of the Govt. of India, Department of Expenditure for issuing a clear direction to the authorities concerned not to delay the revision of 7th Central Pay Commission pension for want of Aadhar number and PAN number of the pensioners. An office memorandum dated 17th August, 2017 in this regard has already been issued by the Central Pension Accounting Office, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Earlier, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare, New Delhi vide their OM dated 7th August, 2017 had directed all the Ministries and Departments of the Govt of India to suo-moto process the pension revision cases of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners forthwith based on details available with Head of Office/PAOs without insisting submission of any additional information or documents from them.
