Road ministry flags CBI chief about an officer seeking room, vehicle during tour

NEW DELHI: The road transport ministry was taken by surprise when it received a letter from the branch head of CBI, ACB Gandhinagar, requesting it to “make arrangement of suitable room and a vehicle” for a senior officer visiting the national capital for six days. The ministry has flagged this request letter to the CBI director calling it “unexpected”.
“The request to the ministry for making arrangements for accommodation and vehicle for an officer on an official tour is unexpected.It’s not in the domain of the ministry to arrange logistics for officers coming from states for their official work to Delhi,” the letter from the ministry said.
It also mentioned that for official tours, there are provisions of travel allowance/daily allowance and hotel accommodation based on the pay level of the officer. “It is requested that officers of CBI, ACB Gandhinagar, are advised as appropriate,” the letter said.
Sources said it was not the role of ministries to make stay and travel arrangements of officers when they are visiting any place. They added there may be similar cases and hence there is a need to stop such practice that’s against rules. “This applies to all departments and officials from every agency must follow this,” said an official.