SHILLONG, Jan 16: The state government has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the process of granting permission to government employees for private foreign travel.
While prior permission remains mandatory, the new SOP aims to ensure a uniform, transparent and time-bound procedure for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) while safeguarding administrative and security interests.
Under the delegated powers, Administrative Departments and Heads of Departments are now authorised to issue NOCs for non-gazetted employees under their jurisdiction, provided they comply with prescribed conditions.
However, all foreign travel proposals, whether official or private, for All India Service (AIS) officers, gazetted officers and any employee in a sensitive or vigilance-significant position must be referred to the Personnel & AR (A) Department for approval. No other authority is permitted to process cases in these categories.
The government has directed all departments and heads of offices to ensure strict adherence to the new guidelines.
