Grant of Conveyance Allowance at the revised rates to Railway Medical Officers

1. In the course of Vigilance check conducted on one of the Zonal Railways, it was found that payment of Conveyance Allowance to Railway Medical Officers has been made in some cases even though no certificate to the effect that he/she was drawing Conveyance Allowance in fulfillment of Condition No. 5 of Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2009/AL-7/1 dt. 24.7.09 had been furnished. In this context Condition No. 5 & 6 of Board’s aforesaid letter are reiterated below for strict observance:-

“5. For entitlement the maximum amount of Conveyance Allowance mentioned above in para (1), every Specialist/General Duty Medical Officer is required to pay on an average (to be computed for a three month period) a minimum of 20 visits in a month to the hospital or 20 domiciliary visits, outside his normal duty hours. Where, however, the number of domiciliary visits or visit to hospital falls shorts of this minimum limit of 20 but not below 6, there should be a proportionate reduction in the Conveyance Allowance, subject to minimum grant of Conveyance Allowance of Rs. 160/-, Rs. 80/- and Rs. 60/- p.m. in the case of Specialists/Medical Officers referred to sub-para 1(i), (ii) and (iii) above respectively. In case of number of domiciliary visits or visits to the hospital falling below six in number, no Conveyance Allowance will be admissible.

Provided that the expression “minimum of 20 domiciliary visits in a month ”would include visits performed in connection with official duties also, subject, however, to the condition that 50% of the total visits, the minimum being not less than six, must be domiciliary visits.

Provided further that the limit fixed for the minimum number of 20 visits will not, however, detract a Specialist/Medical Officer from his/her responsibility towards the patient to render visit to the hospital or paying domiciliary visits if the situation so warrants.

6. Every specialist/Medical Officer claiming Conveyance Allowance will have to furnish a certificate along with monthly pay bill to the effect that he/she is drawing Conveyance Allowance in fulfillment of condition No. 5 above.”

It may be ensured that in no case Conveyance Allowance to Railway Medical Officers should be paid without having obtained the requisite certificate.

2. Furthermore, clarification have been sought by some of the Railways with regard to para 4 of Board’s letter of even number dated 24.7.2009. The matter and the issue regarding admissibility of Conveyance Allowance to Railway Medical Officers who are eligible to staff car for their official duties has been examined in consultation with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and clarifications in respect of these issues are as under.

Para No. 4 Calculation of the amount of Conveyance Allowance to be revised every year will be done in the following manner:

The rate of Conveyance Allowance for the period from 1.9.2009 to 31.8.2010 to be enhanced in proportion to the DA accrued from 1.9.2008 to 31.8.2009 will be as per illustration given below:-

Conveyance Allowance as on 1.9.2008 ……….. Rs. 3300/-

DA increased upto 31.8.2009……………………..Rs. 11%

Enhancement in Conveyance Allowance…………Rs. 363/-

Revised rate of Conveyance Allowance…………..Rs. 3663/-

The rate of Conveyance Allowance for the period 1.9.2009 to 31.8.2010 may be  calculated, in the similar manner.

Para No. 5 (i) The computation of three month period is to be calculated from 1.9.2008.

(ii) The minimum limit of rate of Conveyance Allowance for minimum 6 visits was mentioned in the order as per recommendations of 6th CPC. This minimum limit of amount mentioned in the order has no relevance since minimum amount for minimum 6 visits of Railway Medical Officers would be higher than the limit fixed by 6th CPC. Therefore, the condition fixing minimum amount for minimum 6 visits is deleted.

(iii) The Railway Medical Officers cannot limit their visits to 20 for the fact that they have become entitled for maximum amount. They have to make more visits than 20 for the same maximum amount of Conveyance Allowance if the situation warrants.

Para 10: In case of non-functioning of vehicle, the officer will be paid as per rate entitlement of those officers who do not maintain any vehicle subject to production of receipt for hiring of vehicle.

It is also clarified in supersession of Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2006/AL-7/5 dated 27.030.2008 that Medical Officers who have been provided with official vehicles for performing official duties will not be entitled to grant of Conveyance Allowance for any domiciliary visits or official duties performed etc.

(This disposes of East Coast Railway’s letter No. ECoR/Pers/Gaz/Conveyance Allowance/55 dated 9.4.2010 and South East Central Railway’s letter No. P/SECR/Ruling/P&A/Conveyance Allow. 17296 dated 1.4.2010).