Government officers who have a grade pay of Rs7,600 will now be entitled to air travel, official sources said on Tuesday. In an emergency even officers who are having a grade pay of Rs6,600 are also entitled to air travel subject to the approval from higher authorities, they said.
The State Finance Department has issued a circular detailing the classification of officers who are eligible to air travel. The circular was issued after the Government reviewed travelling allowances and related matters.
As per the circular issued by the additional chief secretary DS Mishra, HAG grade pay officers are entitled to air fare inside the country in executive class. Whereas Rs8,700 or above grade pay officers can travel in economy class within the country.
Similarly officers who are having Rs7,600 grade pay or above until Rs8,700 grade pay also will be eligible to air travel in economy class.
Mishra said the general administration department will allow such officers after they fulfill all the criteria.
To make the procedure simple, it was decided that the general administration department will approve the officers who are having a grade pay
of Rs6,600.
The notification also said only junior officer just one rank below will be given permission to attend meeting inside the country or abroad in case the officer invited for the meeting of event unable to attend it.
The general administration department will have to ensure that expenditure on such travels are covered in the budget for that financial year.