Planning a Leave Travel Concession (LTC) journey as a government employee can be a rewarding experience, offering an opportunity to explore new destinations or reconnect with family in one’s hometown. However, it is essential to navigate the rules and guidelines governing LTC meticulously to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide based on the latest guidelines to help you make the most of your LTC entitlement. You can refer – DoP&T OM No. 31011/3/2015-Estt (A.IV) dated 18-02-2016 for the exact lines. Here I tried to layout the rules simple. You can Download the LTC Application at end of this article.
1. Leave Application and Self-Certification
Before embarking on your LTC journey, it’s crucial to apply for leave and submit the necessary self-certification form to the Administration. This step is mandatory to ensure that your journey is recognized and reimbursable. Skipping this can lead to complications, including denial of your LTC claim.
2. Check Your Eligibility
Understanding your eligibility is very important before you commit. The LTC to Home Town can be availed once in a block of two years, and LTC to any place in India is available once in a four-year block. Interestingly, if you miss availing the LTC in the designated block, it can still be availed in the first year of the following block. Currently, the two-year block is 2024-2025, and the four-year block is 2022-2025. Make sure to check which block you fall under to avoid any confusion.
3. Special Provisions for Fresh Recruits
Fresh recruits have a unique entitlement: they can avail LTC to their hometown on three occasions and to any place in India on the fourth occasion within their first two blocks of four years. However, if they opt for the regular LTC rules applicable to other government employees, they cannot avail the special provisions. This flexibility allows fresh recruits to make travel decisions that best suit their needs early in their career.
4. LTC for Retiring Employees
If you’re nearing retirement, you can still avail of your LTC benefits, provided the return journey is completed before your retirement date. This offers a great opportunity to travel before concluding your service, but remember, post-retirement LTC claims are not permissible.
5. Travel Guidelines and Modes of Transport
Travel on LTC must be undertaken in the entitled class of the government servant in public or government modes of transport. Private modes are generally not allowed unless a public transport is unavailable, in which case certification from an appropriate authority is required. If you plan to use a private vehicle for part of your journey, ensure you complete the initial leg with an authorized mode of transport to the nearest airport or railway station. Reimbursement will only cover the distance traveled by the approved mode, necessitating an honest declaration that you reached the declared destination.
6. Advance and Claim Procedures
You can apply for an advance for your travel expenses up to sixty-five days before your trip, but tickets must be produced within ten days of receiving the advance. Ensure that you submit your LTC claim within three months of completing your return journey if no advance was taken, or within one month if an advance was drawn. Timeliness is key to avoiding issues with your claim.
7. Air Travel Regulations
Government employees eligible to travel by air must fly with Air India in Economy Class at the LTC-80 fare or less, unless otherwise permitted. Those not entitled to air travel may still choose to fly, but reimbursement will be restricted to their eligible class of train or transport fare, or the actual expense, whichever is lower. Air tickets must be booked directly through airlines or approved travel agencies like Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd, Ashok Tours & Travels Ltd, or IRCTC to be valid for LTC.
8. Restrictions on Tour Packages
While travel on tour packages is typically not allowed, exceptions are made for tours conducted by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Only the fare component of these tours is reimbursable, provided it’s separately itemized and certified.
9. Ensuring Compliance
Adherence to these guidelines is crucial. An accurate and thorough claim submission ensures that your LTC benefits are received without any hassle. Understanding these rules and planning accordingly can make your travel not only enjoyable but also financially beneficial.
10.The time-limit for submission of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) claims is outlined as follows:
- When advance is drawn: The claim must be submitted within 30 days of completing the return journey.
- When no advance is drawn: The claim must be submitted within 90 days of the return journey. Failure to do so within this period will result in the forfeiture of the claim.
For the first case, where an advance is drawn:
- If the claim is not submitted within 30 days after the return journey, the entire advance will be recovered in one lump sum. The claim will then be considered as one where no advance was taken, and a penal interest of 2% above the current GPF/CPF interest rate will be charged from the date of the advance until the date of recovery.
- If the claim is submitted within the stipulated time, but there is an unutilized portion of the advance, interest will be charged on the unutilized amount from the date the advance was drawn until the date it is recovered, as specified above.
- If part of the advance is found to be excess due to genuine reasons beyond the employee’s control, the competent authority may, if satisfied, exempt the employee from paying interest on the excess amount.
11. LTC Encashment Recovery rule and Penal Interest if employee not performed LTC journey
There are specific rules in place to ensure the proper utilization of this benefit. One critical aspect is the recovery of LTC encashment with penal interest if the employee fails to undertake the journey.
According to the CCS (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, if an employee does not perform the journey, they are required to refund the amount drawn for the LTC within ten days of drawing the advance. This refund must be made voluntarily if the employee is unable to produce the ticket for the outward journey within this period.
A key point of concern is the imposition of penal interest for non-compliance. Penal interest on the refunded amount is calculated from the date of drawal of the advance, not from the date of sanction or the proposed date of the journey. This means that the financial accountability starts from the day the advance is received, ensuring that employees are diligent in either completing their journey or promptly returning the funds.
By adhering to these guidelines, employees can avoid unnecessary financial penalties and ensure the proper utilization of the LTC benefits.
In Short:
- LTC Advance Refund: Required within 10 days if the journey is not undertaken.
- Proof of Journey: Ticket for outward journey must be shown.
- Penal Interest: Calculated from the date of drawal of the advance.
Understanding and following these rules ensures compliance and avoids financial repercussions.
Downloads Forms Below
