In a bid to ensure greater transparency and probity in cases of “foreign hospitality” being enjoyed by government servants, the Union home ministry has made it mandatory for all public servants to seek the permission of the Central government by submitting only “online” applications along with invitation letter from the host organisation or country and the administrative clearance of the concerned ministry or government department.
Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010, “foreign hospitality” means any offer, not being a purely casual one, made by a foreign source for providing a person with the cost of travel to any foreign country or territory or with free board, lodging, transport or medical treatment.
Section 6 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act bars any member of a legislature, or office-bearer of a political party, judge, government servant or employee of any corporation or any other body owned or controlled by the government from accepting “foreign hospitality” while visiting any country or territory outside India, except with the prior permission of the Central government.
To streamline the entire procedure of granting permission in such cases, Union home secretary Anil Goswami has written to secretaries of all Central ministries and government departments and state chief secretaries this month, the ministry of home affairs has said that the fresh rules have been framed for “government servants and employees of corporations or any other body owned or controlled by the government”.
Under the new rules, the government servants will have to submit their applications online to the ministry along with the invitation letter from the host country or organisation and the administrative clearance of the ministry or department.