Travel curbs imposed on governors

New Delhi: Governors will not be free to travel outside their state of posting at will any longer. The Centre has now placed restrictions on them requiring that they must stay in the state for at least 292 days a year and not leave station without permission from the President.

The move comes against the backdrop of reports received by the government that a number of governors fly out of their state of posting frequently to their home states. “Frequency of visits to the home state shall be avoided or limited,” a Gazette notification issued by Union Home Ministry said.

According to the notification, the duration of visits of the governor outside his posting should not exceed 20 per cent of the days in a calender year. According to the 18-point rules, the governors will have to explain the “compelling reasons” for last-minute travel plans to the President.

“No visits shall be undertaken without obtaining the prior permission of the President or in emergent or extraordinary circumstances, without prior intimation to the President's Secretariat,” it said.

The request seeking permission for travel outside the state will have to be sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan much before the date of travel and it should explain whether it is official or private and the destination is in India or abroad.

“Before undertaking private visits within India, the Governor shall seek approval of the President and any



communication for such approval shall be forwarded to the President's Secretariat at least two weeks in advance, except in exceptional circumstances. If such private visit is to a foreign country, the communication shall be forwarded to the President Secretariat at least six weeks in advance,” the notification said.

In a bid to ensure that the governors do not pass off private visits as official, they have been asked to send their detailed itinerary to the President for every official visit and keep Rashtrapati Bhavan posted about any changes.

The copies of the request will also have to be marked to the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister's principal secretary. 

According to the 18-point rules, the governors will have to explain the “compelling reasons” for last-minute travel plans to the President.

Governors have to stay in the state for at least 292 days as year

Governors have to keep Rashtrapati Bhavan posted about any changes in the travel schedule

To ensure any governor does not pass off private visits as official, Raj Bhavans will have to send their detailed itinerary for every official visit 

The requests for permission to travel outside the state will have to be sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan anywhere between one week and six weeks before the trip

Every request has to be marked to the prime minister's principal secretary and union home minister