Rule 296 — GFR 2017
Original Rule Text
Rule 296
(1) Procedure for dealing with time-
barred claims.
Even
a
time
barred
claim
of
a
Government servant, shall be entertained
by the concerned authority provided that
the concerned authority is satisfied that
the
claimant
was
prevented
from
submitting his claim within the prescribed
time limit on account of causes and
circumstance beyond his control.
Rule 296
(2) A time barred claim referred to in
Rule296 (1) shall be paid with the
express sanction of the Government
issued with the previous consent of the
Internal Finance Wing of the Ministry or
Department concerned.
What This Means
This rule explains what happens when a government employee has a valid financial claim (like for allowances or reimbursements) but submits it after the official deadline. Normally, such a claim would be rejected because it's 'time-barred'. However, Rule 296 allows these late claims to be considered under specific conditions.
For a time-barred claim to be entertained, the employee must convince the relevant authority that they were genuinely unable to submit their claim on time due to reasons completely outside their control. This means it wasn't just forgetfulness or negligence, but rather unavoidable circumstances that prevented them from meeting the deadline.
If the authority is satisfied with the explanation, the claim can proceed. However, paying out such a late claim requires a special, explicit approval from the Government. Before the Government gives this final sanction, the Internal Finance Wing of the specific Ministry or Department involved must first give its consent. This ensures financial oversight and due diligence for claims submitted past their due date.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Government servants' claims submitted after the deadline (time-barred) can still be considered.
- 2The claimant must prove that circumstances beyond their control prevented timely submission.
- 3The concerned authority must be satisfied with the reasons for the delay.
- 4Payment of such a claim requires the express sanction of the Government.
- 5Before Government sanction, the Internal Finance Wing of the Ministry or Department must give its prior consent.
Practical Example
Imagine Ms. Priya, an Assistant Section Officer, was on official duty in a remote area for three months, immediately followed by a serious medical emergency requiring hospitalization for another two months. During this entire period, she was unable to access her office or submit her travel allowance (TA) and medical reimbursement claims, which had a standard submission deadline of three months from the date of expenditure.
Upon her return to duty, Ms. Priya submits her claims, explaining the circumstances and attaching supporting documents like her official tour orders and hospital discharge summary. Her Head of Department reviews the case and is satisfied that her inability to submit the claims on time was due to genuine reasons beyond her control. The HOD then forwards the case to the Internal Finance Wing of their Ministry for their consent. Once the Finance Wing agrees, the proposal is sent to the higher Government authority for the final 'express sanction' to process and pay Ms. Priya's time-barred claims.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.