There was confusion in some departments that whether the admissibility rules for payment of Transport Allowance are applicable during this unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown period
Admissibility guidelines were issued by Ministry Finance for payment of Transport Allowance in the Order dated 7.7.2017 [ Read this Order]
Admissibility of Transport Allowance during the following circumstances
(a) During leave: The allowance will not be admissible for the calendar month(s) wholly covered by leave.
(b) During deputation abroad: The allowance will not be admissible during the period of deputation abroad.
(c) During tour: If an employee is absent from the Headquarters/Place of Posting for full calendar month(s) due to tour, he/she will not be entitled to Transport Allowance during that those calendar month/months. However, if the absence does not cover any Calendar month(s) in full, Transport Allowance will be admissible for full month.
(d) During training treated as duty: The allowance may be granted during Such training, if no Transport Facility Travelling Allowance/Daily Allowance is provided for attending the training institute. During official tour in the training course, the allowance will not be admissible when the period of the tour Covers the whole Calendar month. Also, during training abroad, no Transport Allowance will be admissible when the period of Such training Covers the whole calendar month.
(e) During inspection/survey duty by Members of Special Parties within the city but exceeding 8 kms. from the Headquarters OR during Continuous field duty either in or Outside the Headquarters. Transport Allowance is given to compensate for the expenditure incurred for Commuting for both to and fro between the place of duty and residence. In case when One gets Road Mileage/Daily Allowance or free transportation for field/inspection/survey duty or tour for a period Covering the whole calendar month, he/she will not be entitled to Transport Allowance during that calendar month.
(f) To vacation staff : Vacation staff is entitled to Transport Allowance provided no free transport facility is given to such staff. However, the allowance shall not be admissible when such vacation spell, including all kinds of leave, cover the whole calendar month(s).
(g) During suspension: As a Government employee under Suspension is not required to attend office, he/she is not entitled to Transport Allowance during suspension where suspension Covers full calendar month(s). This position will hold good even if the Suspension period is finally treated as duty. Where Suspension period covers a calendar month partially, Transport Allowance payable for that month shall be reduced proportionately.
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Lockdown period should not be combined with any leave as this is an unprecedented circumstance which an employee never planned for. For the sake of Nation, we are working from Home maximum possible extent. Hence, TA should not be deducted based on existing guideline since this is a special situation through which all countryman are going through. An order to be issued soon to all ministries and States/UT.
I request the MoF / DoPT to issue necessary directions with regard to transport allowance during lockdown period as in present situation, deductions and payment of TA are basically done on the way the higherups perceive the TA order. While some Ministries / Departments are paying TA , other are deducting TA from salaries. The employees are already not getting the enhanced DA installment.
It has been stated that to the vacation staff, the allowance shall not be admissible when such vacation spell, including all kinds of leave, cover the whole calendar month(s).
The DOPT needs to issue a O. M. in the case of ‘Transport Allowance’ during Lockdown Period and send a copy of the same to All states/ UTs in order to avoid confusion reg. release of the same.
Since lockdown period is not covered under points 3 a to g of MO Finence OM dated 07/07/2017. As far as concern of point 3a,it is applicable in case of leave, while no leave applied by anyone employe to stay home during lockdown period. Government ordered to stay home and work from home. Even according to point 3f, transport allowance is admissible to vacation staff.
Keeping in view above facts transport allowance to be continued,till further order issued from ministry of finance.
No deduction should be made from salery of employees on the basis of said dated 07/07/3027 of MO Finence GOI.