NDA Govt Impose New Travel Rules to Governors

 

In an attempt to ensure governors spend considerable time in their states, the Narendra Modi government has imposed strict restrictions on their frequent travel plans. 

The decision has come after it was noticed that some governors spent days at a stretch outside their respective states and even abused their privileges. 

As per the new restrictions, every governor must spend at least 292 days of a year in his or her state, and he or she can only leave the state after the President’s nod

“No visit shall be undertaken without prior permission from the President or, in case of emergency or extraordinary circumstances, prior intimation to the President’s secretariat,” the new 18-point set of rules, notified by home ministry, said. 

In case of a last-minute travel plan, the governor will have to explain the compelling reasons for the trip

Any request for permission to travel outside the state will have to be sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, one and six weeks before the date of travel — depending on whether the tour is official or private, and the destination is in India or abroad. 

Every travel request will also have to be marked to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra

The Prime Minister’s Office will closely monitor the governors’ travel plans, the rules stated

“To ensure governors do not pass off private visits as official, the Raj Bhavans will have to send their detailed itineraries to the President for every official visit - domestic or foreign - and keep the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted about any change. 

"The duration of such visits of the governor shall not exceed 20 per cent of the days in a calendar year either,” the notification further said

In case of foreign visits, communication seeking approval of the President for undertaking shall be received by the President’s secretariat at least six weeks in advance

The governor shall also have to invariably obtain a clearance under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, besides a political clearance, before undertaking the foreign visit, it said.