How and Who Approves a CM’s International Travel

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, claimed that the center was delaying approval for his next visit to Singapore. In this article we are going to understand how and who approves a CM`s international travel or in other words what types of authorization—and from whom—do CMs, ministers, MPs, and other government employees need for international travel? 

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, has questioned why the center took so long to approve his trip to Singapore to attend the World Cities Summit on July 31 to August 3. 

He eventually used videoconferencing to address the Centre’s refusal to allow him to travel for another seminar in October 2019. 

Which consent is necessary for Chief Ministers to travel abroad? 

According to a circular released on May 6, 2015, the Cabinet Secretariat must be informed. “The Chief Ministers and Ministers of State Government and Union Territories shall notify the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs of any proposed foreign visit, whether official or private. However, FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) clearance and prior political clearance are needed. The Department of Economic Affairs Secretary must also receive a copy of the application from Chief Ministers and Ministers of State Governments (DEA). 

What is political clearance? 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the source. Any government employee travelling abroad must have this, not just public employees. Every month, ministers, secretaries, bureaucrats, and other officials submit hundreds of petitions to the MEA for political clearance. 

The selection is made based on a number of variables, including the event’s nature, the degree of international participation, the type of invitation offered, and India’s relations with the host nation. 

Since 2016, applications for e-political clearance can be submitted using the website epolclearance.gov.in. Following coordination between multiple Ministry divisions, which is accomplished through a dedicated “Coordination Division,” these are processed and clearance is provided. According to sources, the appropriate ministry and the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) only consider applications if the MEA provides political clearance. No governmental employee may travel abroad without this clearance. 

How frequently have CMs been denied political clearance? 

On October 11, 2019, Kejriwal had to deliver a speech via videoconference because the center had rejected permission for a journey there. When the UPA government was in power, the MEA had refused political permission for trips to the US and Israel for then-Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi (of the Congress in Assam) and Arjun Munda (of the BJP in Jharkhand). On April 2, 2012, Gogoi planned to travel to New York for a “high level meeting,” but the Ministry objected, writing that “direct correspondence by a diplomatic Mission with a State Government being unacceptable.” The Ministry had stated that “Concerned agencies will be hard pressed to grant special consideration for CM, Assam, both from the substantive and protocol sides” on his proposed trip to Israel for a symposium on water and environment technology. 

Are any further permissions necessary? 

Additional clearances are required for various personnel. A clearance from the Department of Economic Affairs is also required for Chief Ministers, Ministers of State Governments, and other state authorities, as was already noted. The Prime Minister must also give his approval for Union Ministers’ trips, whether they are official or personal, after the MEA has given its political clearance. Both the Speaker and the Chair of the Rajya Sabha must provide their approval for Lok Sabha members to vote (Vice President of India). The concerned minister, after receiving political clearance, grants clearance to officers of several ministries up to joint secretary level. A screening committee of secretaries must approve the plan for those who are higher in level. 

The number of persons in a delegation, the length of the tour, and the country being visited all affect the rules. A FCRA approval must be obtained from the Home Ministry if the international journey entails receiving hospitality from organizations other than the UN. Ministries frequently publish circulars stating that requests for international travel must be filed well in advance and that they will not consider such requests if a political clearance is not included. 

If a journey is private, MPs are not required to notify the Lok or Rajya Sabha secretariat. However, a few of MPs do inform the chairman’s or speaker’s office (Lok Sabha) (Rajya Sabha). All international travel by government officials, whether for business or for pleasure, requires prior approval. 

In a circular published on May 9, 2019, the Union Department of Expenditure instructed Ministeries and Departments to “ensure that the timeline stipulated for submitting the proposal for foreign visits requiring SCOS (Screening Committee of Secretaries) and Prime Minister’s approval is received 15 days prior to the departure date of the delegation but not later than 5 days before date of Departure.”