New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- The central government has clarified its policy on the House Rent Allowance (HRA), categorically stating that both spouses cannot claim HRA if they are central government employees posted at the same station and one of them has already been allotted government accommodation.

This clarification ends speculation over the applicability of HRA to serving central government employees.

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary provided the clarification in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on 4 August.

Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik has asked whether the government plans to reconsider the rule to make it more equitable for couples where both spouses are in active government service and poste...