No transport allowance for government staff who worked from home during COVID-19 lockdown

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 2

The Central government has stated that no transport allowance would be paid to employees who did not attend office during the nationwide lockdown that had been imposed earlier this year to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Central government employees who could not attend office in a whole calendar month during the lockdown period are not eligible to draw transport allowance for that month as these employees had not incurred any expenditure for commuting to office,” a circular issued by the Department of Expenditure on December 1 states.

Transport allowance is granted to Central government employees as per prescribed rates to compensate them for the cost incurred on account of commuting between their residence and office.

The Ministry of Finance had received several references regarding admissibility of transport allowance during the lockdown period that was enforced from March 23 to April 20 and then extended further up to May 20, 2020. Non-essential movement of individuals during this period was prohibited. Many government offices had functioned on reduced staff strength and where possible, employees were given the option to work from home through online means.

Physically disabled employees and pregnant women employees, who were exempted to attend office and were directed to work from home during exempted period as per instructions issued by Department of Personnel and Training, are also not eligible to draw transport allowance during exemption period as these employees have not incurred any expenditure for commuting.

Non-entitled officials who were temporarily provided with the facility of official car for commuting between office and residences throughout the whole calendar month on account of unavailability of public transport facility due to COVID-19 pandemic, are also not eligible to draw transport allowance, the circular adds.