Misuse of tour exemption

Government of India has framed travel rules for tour-- both domestic and international-- for its employees wherein approval of competent authority is obtained before proceeding or after completing journey for official purpose. However, exemption has been provided for the President, PM, Governors, CMs keeping in view their status. However, it appears that this exemption is being misused as per whims and fancy of incumbents to serve more a political or private purpose and less a public purpose. No social audit is done in CAG reports for scrutiny of Parliament or Legislative Assembly for such tours. When these expenses are borne out of public exchequer, such an exercise must be undertaken to know as to what public purpose has been served for undertaking such tours. Data is available with the Government to find out whether frequent official foreign tours benefited the country or a State even from an administrative point of view, they do not violate any rules governing travels.

Raj Kumar Thakur