Government employees seeking nod to go abroad to get reply in 3 weeks

New Delhi: Permission to central government employees going abroad need to be given within 21 days of receive of a request by concerned authorities, failing which it will be assumed that the nod has been given.

Besides, any denial of such permission should not be taken "below the level of head of department", as per the fresh instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

"It may be ensured that the decisions are conveyed to the government servants within 21 days of receipt of complete application to the competent authority. Any lacunae in the application should be brought to the notice of the government servant within one week of the receipt of the application.

"In the event of failure on the part of the competent authority to communicate its decision to the government employee concerned with 21 days of receipt of the application, the employee concerned shall be free to assume that permission

has been granted to him," the DoPT said.

In case, due to specific nature of work in a department, administrative exigencies, or some adverse factors against the government servant, etc., it is not expedient to grant permission to the government servant, such decision for refusal should not be taken below the level of head of department, it said.

As per existing instructions, when a government servant applies for leave for going abroad on a private visit, separately prior permission of the competent authority for such visit is also required.

"While granting such permission, many factors are required to be kept in view. For example, permission may be denied in the interest of security. Individuals facing investigation or inquiry on serious charges, who may try to evade apprehension

by police authorities, or facing the inquiry, may also not be permitted to leave the country. On the other hand, it is also desirable that requests of government servants for such permission are dealt with expeditiously," it said.

The DoPT is also finalising a policy on procedures for handling requests for going abroad and information need to be given by employees to the government before going on leave.

The employees going abroad need to disclose estimated expenditure and source of funds prior to their visits, according to a draft of the policy.

They also need to give details of such trips taken by them during the past four years. There are about 48 lakh central government employees in the country.