Can I Take Leave Without Pay (Extraordinary Leave)?

When EOL Can Be Granted

• EOL may be granted in special circumstances when no other leave is admissible, or when other leave is admissible but you apply in writing for EOL (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(1), p. 25).
• You are not entitled to any leave salary during EOL (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 40(5), p. 35).
• Leave cannot be claimed as of right and may be refused when public service needs require (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 7, p. 7).

How Long: Limits for Temporary Employees

If you are not in permanent or quasi-permanent employ, EOL on any one occasion cannot exceed these limits, unless the President decides otherwise in exceptional circumstances (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(2), p. 25):

• Two spells of EOL with another kind of leave in between are treated as one continuous spell for these limits (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(5), p. 26).
• The Head of Department may relax these limits for SC and ST employees attending notified Pre-Examination Training Courses (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(4), p. 26).
• If EOL is given by relaxing the study limit, you must sign a bond to refund the expenditure, with interest, if you do not return to duty or you quit within three years of returning (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(3)(a), p. 26).

The Five-Year Ceiling for Everyone

• No government servant can be granted leave of any kind for a continuous period of more than five years (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 12(1), p. 8).
• If you stay absent for more than five years continuously, with or without leave (other than on foreign service), you are deemed to have resigned, unless the President decides otherwise. You must first get a reasonable opportunity to explain (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 12(2), p. 8).
• This does not apply where leave is applied for on medical certificate in connection with a disability (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 12(2), proviso, p. 8).

Effects of EOL on Your Leave

• Your next half-yearly earned leave credit is reduced by one-tenth of the EOL period, up to 15 days (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 27(3), p. 20).
• The leave sanctioning authority may retrospectively convert periods of absence without leave into EOL (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32(6), p. 26).
• If you stay absent after your leave ends without an extension, you get no leave salary for that period. It is debited as half pay leave to the extent due, and the rest is treated as EOL (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 25(1), p. 18). Wilful absence can lead to disciplinary action (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 25(2), p. 18).
• EOL granted on medical certificate or otherwise may be converted retrospectively into leave not due, subject to Rule 31 (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 10, Note, p. 8). A request to convert leave must reach the authority within 30 days of rejoining duty (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 10(1), proviso, p. 8).
• Leave preparatory to retirement cannot include EOL (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 38(1), Note, p. 27).

Where to Check

Read Rules 12, 27 and 32 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 in the DoPT consolidated copy updated as on 24.09.2024 (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 32, p. 25).

These rules do not apply to Railway servants (CCS (Leave) Rules 1972, Rule 2(a), p. 3). KVS, NVS and Delhi Police staff should also check their own organisation's orders.

Related Questions

Official Sources

• Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 (updated as on 24.09.2024) · Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India