Criteria for Issue of Passport under Tatkaal Scheme

Ministry of External Affairs

The Government had introduced the Tatkaal scheme to issue passport to citizens in an expedited manner (after liberalizing the requirement of documents and within the basic parameters of security consideration). The Scheme was launched on 1 January 2000 to provide a transparent and systematic avenue to applicants for issue of passports in a time bound manner, subject to production of proof of urgency. Under the scheme, passport applications are processed on post-police verification basis (where required).

The Scheme was further expanded and liberalized with effect from 23 December 2006. Now, no proof of urgency is required for out of turn fresh/re-issue of passport under Tatkaal Scheme. Similarly, no Tatkaal documentation is required for minor passport, if application falls in no Police Verification category. There was also expansion of the list of the officials authorized to issue Verification Certificate. Also the applicant has been given an option to submit the Tatkaal applications on the basis of three documents out of 16 documents (one of the three documents has to be a photo identity document).

The Government has further reduced the delivery period for issuing of passports under Tatkaal Scheme. As on today, fresh Tatkaal passports are issued within 1-7 working days of the date of application and re-issue passport under Tatkaal category within 1-3 working days, subject to completion of all formalities.

In order to further simplify the submission of passport applications, the Passport Seva Project has been successfully implemented under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of the Government of India. Under this Scheme, the applicant applies on-line for submission of passport application at Passport Portal [www.passportindia.gov.in].

The Minister of State in the Ministry Of External Affairs Shri E. Ahamed provided this information in reply to questions in Rajya Sabha today.

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Reservation in promotion to SCs and STs: Latest statement by Minister of Personnel

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-101

ANSWERED ON-22.11.2012
Reservation in promotion to SCs and STs
101 . SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR KASHYAP
(a) whether a Supreme Court verdict has come wherein the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in promotions has been held unconstitutional;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government has taken any concrete steps to obviate the hurdles being faced in giving promotions to SCs and STs; and (d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a) & (b): The Supreme Court in the matter of M.Nagaraj Vs. Union of India has held that the constitutional amendments made to enable the State to provide reservation in promotion are constitutionally valid. However, the States have to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness of the class and inadequacy of representation of that class in public employment, keeping in mind maintenance of efficiency, as indicated in Article 335.

Recently, the Supreme Court in the matter of Rajesh Kumar Vs. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has struck down the provision of reservation in promotion in the employment of State of Uttar Pradesh, because the aforesaid requirements were not complied with. Earlier also, on similar ground, the Apex Court in the matter of Surajbhan Meena Vs. State of Rajasthan had quashed the provision of reservation in promotion in the employment of State of Rajasthan.

(c) & (d): The Government of India has already taken required steps to provide constitutional safeguards to obviate hurdles being faced in giving promotions to SCs and STs. A Bill, namely, The Constitution (One Hundred and Seventeenth) Amendment Bill, 2012 has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 5th September, 2012 to provide impediment free reservation to SCs and STs in promotion.

Above statement has been submitted by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in reply of undermentioned Rajya Sabha Question.

Source: Rajya Sabha Q&A

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Web Based Status Tracking Facility for Income Tax Refunds

Web Based Status Tracking Facility Launched to Check Corruption in Income Tax Refunds.

Instances of alleged corruption for settlement of refund claims and complaints come to notice from time to time. Whenever any such instance or complaints comes to notice, the same is verified and if it is found to be correct, the concerned officers/officials have to face penal consequences depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.

   The process of issue of refunds has been streamlined in the course of computerization and encouraging e-filing of returns for speedy processing and issue of refunds through refund banker scheme. A web based status tracking facility for refunds has also been launched. The grievance redressal mechanism has been strengthened for ensuring prompt disposal of all such complaints.

   Significant success has been achieved. An e-filed return claiming refund is now on an average processed within three to four months of its filing.

   This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

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Additional LTC Benefits to newly recruited Central Government Employees

Leave Travel Concession for Central Government employees in general provides for reimbursement of fare entitled to the employee and his / her family concerned for the travel to home town twice in four years or to a place any where in India in lieu of one home town travel concession once in four years.

As far as newly recruited Central Government Employees are concerned, LTC Scheme provides for some additional benefits which are discussed in this article.

LTC Scheme after implementation of Sixth Pay Commission report – Benefits to Fresh Recruits in the form of additional LTC trips

LTC Rules amended after implementation of sixth pay commission provides certain more Benefits to Fresh Recruits in the form of allowing additional home town trips under LTC (after completion of one year of continuous service in central government service)

As per the amendment made in Rule 8 of LTC Rules, Fresh recruits to Central Government may be are allowed to travel to their home town along with their families on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion.

This facility shall be available to the Government officers only for the first two blocks of four years applicable after joining the Government for the first time. In other words after completion of one year of continuous service in Central Government service one can avail LTC for three Home town trips and one All India trip in each of two LTC blocks that fall in in the first eight years of Government service

The blocks of 4 years shall apply with reference to the initial date of joining the Government even though the employee changes the job within Government subsequently. The existing blocks will remain the same but the entitlements of the new recruit will be different in the first eight years of service.

After grant of this additional LTC benefits to fresh recruits, doubts were raised whether this additional benefits can be allowed Central Government Employees who have joined in the Government Service prior to 23.09.2008 (i.e. before the date of issue of OM) but yet to complete 8 years of service.

Later, DOPT clarified in this aspect to the effect that all Government servants who have not completed 8 years of service as on 01.09.2008 would be entitled for the LTC benefits available to fresh recruits.

(Click here to download O.M.F. No. 31011/4/2008-Estt.(A) dated 23.09.2008)

Married and unmarried Central Government Employees can travel to home availing LTC once a year in one block of 4 years:**

This benefit was available even prior to implementation of sixth pay Commission. Under this clause, Married and unmarried Central Government Employees can travel to home availing LTC once a year in one LTC block of 4 years. There is no restriction in the form of number of years of service to avail LTC in this clause. However, this LTC for travel to home town once a year in the block of 4 years restricted to employee only. The family of the employee is not entitled LTC under this clause.

However, following conditions are to be satisfied in order to avail additional Home Town Trips in one LTC block:

1.The family of Central Government Employee should be living away from him/her at her/his home town.

2.No other LTC claim including LTC to all India and home town can be made by the employee for self and his/her family in the LTC block.

(** It is just an assumption that family of fresh recruits would usually be away from him/her at his/her home town. In fact this facility is available all central government employees whose family is at home town. There is no restriction in the form of number of years of service completed)

(Click here to download LTC Rules – Refer Rule 8 (c) of LTC Rules)

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