Acceptance of passage and hospitality by officers from foreign contracting firms.

(6) Acceptance of passage and hospitality by officers from foreign contracting firms.

Government have had under consideration the question whether an officer may be permitted to accept the cost of passage to a foreign country and hospitality during his stay there by way of free board and lodging, if offered by a foreign firm contracting with the Government either directly or through its agents/representatives in India. The explanation below rule 13 (1) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, provides that ‘gift’ shall include free transport, boarding, lodging or other service or any other pecuniary advantage when provided by any person other than a near relative or personal friend having no official dealings with the Government servant. Note 2 below the said rule further provides that a Government servant shall avoid accepting lavish hospitality or frequent hospitality from any individual having official dealings with him or from industrial or commercial firms, organizations etc. In the circumstances, Government have decided that officers should neither accept, nor be permitted to accept offers of the cost of passage to foreign countries and hospitality by way of free board and lodging there, if such offers are made by foreign firms contracting with Government either directly or through theirs agents/representatives in India. The only exception to this will be in respect of facilities for training abroad offered by foreign firms (who obtain re-imbursement from the foreign Government concerned) as part of aid programmes. *(for as part of an agreement or contract entered into by Government of India or a Public Sector Undertaking with foreign organization.)

[MHA, OM No. F.25/4/67-Ests,(A), dated 03.04.1967 as amended by OM bearing same number dated 06.11.1967]