MPs, MLAs have to take govt nod to accept foreign hospitality

MPs, MLAs, leaders of political parties and judges have been barred by the government from accepting foreign hospitality without obtaining prior approval from the relevant authorities.

In a letter to the chief secretaries of state governments, Union home secretary Anil Goswami said that under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, no public representatives or office-bearers of 

political parties, judges or government servants could accept foreign hospitality unless they had received prior permission for the same from the Centre.

To streamline the procedure for securing permission, it has been decided that applications with respect to government servants and employees of corporations or any other body owned or controlled by the government shall only be accepted online, the letter states.

Applications by MPs and MLAs and office-bearers of political parties and judges may be made online or physically, it says.

The applicant has to submit a scanned copy of the invite from the host country or organisation and the administrative clearance from the ministry or government department concerned.

The Union Home Ministry has put up the detailed instructions for applicants at www.fcrapnline.nic.in.

So far, applications seeking permission to accept foreign hospitality had to be submitted in the form of hard copies along with the forwarding or recommendation letter.