Govt employees nominated to High Level Committees will not be entitled to Sitting Fee

Delegation of powers to Ministries/ Departments for payment of sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of committees/ panel/Boards etc

Govt employees nominated to High Level Committees will not be entitled to Sitting Fee

No. 1 9047/10/2016-E-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi.

Dated: 12.04.2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Delegation of powers to Ministries/ Departments for payment of sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of committees/ panel/Boards etc.

The undersigned is directed to state that the issues related to payment of sitting Fee to Non-officials of committees /panels/Boards etc. have been examined in D/o Expenditure , It has been decided that Administrative Secretaries of the Ministries/ Departments may decide the Sitting Fee in respect of Non-officials of committees/Panels/Boards etc. in consultation with their Financial Advisers and with the approval of their Ministers.

2. While considering the proposals for payment of Sitting Ministries/Departments are directed to keep in instructions/guidelines:-

2.1 Categorization of Committees :

For the purpose of payment of Sitting Fee, Committees /Boards/Panels are categorized into following three categories:-

i) High Level Committee  :

In terms of Cabinet Secretariat Circular NO. 1/16/1/2000-Cab. dated 15.04.2002. a High Level Committee is a Committee  set up with the approval of Hon’ble Prime Minister through the Cabinet  Secretary and presided over by a high ranking dignitary e.g. a Minister, a Judge Of the Supreme Court of India. a Vice-Chancellor etc. including  prominent persons in public life as Members.

ii) Technical Export Committee;

A Technical or Expert Committee is a  Committee constituted to discharge functions as prescribed under  Acts/Rules/Subordinate legislation on the subject. Such Committee is to be set  up with the approval of the Minister of the concerned Ministry. In case any  Member of Parliament is included in the Committee, the prior approval of Prime  Minister to their inclusion is to be obtained in terms of Cabinet Secretariat  Circular No. 1/16/1/2000-Cab. dated 15/04/2002.

Other Committees : All other Committees will be covered under this category. These Committees will be constituted with the approval Of the  Administrative Secretary or Minister

2.2 Definition Of a Non-official : For the purpose Of grant Of Sitting Fee only such persons are to be considered as Non-officials who are not employed in any institution/organisation /body funded by the Central Government.

3. Rate of Sitting Fee:

On the basis of categorization of Committees viz. High  Level Committee, Technical or Expert Committee and Other Committees, The Ministries/ Departments shall ensure that the maximum rates Of Sitting Fee to be paid to Non-official Chairman/ Members will not be more than the following:-

i) High Level Committee : Not more than Rs.10,000/- per day Of Sitting.

(ii) Technical or Expert Committee : Not more than Rs.6000/- per day of Sitting.

(iii) Other Committees: Not more than Rs.4000/- per day of Sitting.

For arriving at the rates of the Sitting Fee to Non-official Chairman and Members of the Committees/Boards/Panels, the Ministries/Department shall observe the following conditions: [Read More.]