Civil servants are entitled to their full salary even when they go on half-pay leave, provided they meet certain health conditions. This article details the rules and orders relating to the full payment of the salary of a civil servant who goes on leave on half pay.

By Manohar Rao Chilappagari

Do you now know that a civil servant can receive his full salary, while being on leave which only entitles him to half-salary?

If the employee meets one of these conditions. Let’s see how this is allowed. The government had issued orders many years ago allowing people suffering from six chronic illnesses to receive their full salary during a half-pay leave period of six months. However, few government employees and teachers seem to be aware of these orders and, therefore, are unable to use these facilities, which could help them financially in times of crisis.

As a general rule, after regularization of service, each civil servant benefits from 20 days of half-paid leave per year from the date of his appointment. This leave can be used for medical or personal reasons. During half pay leave, only half of the basic pay, dearness allowance and allowances are paid.

However, if an employee or teacher suffers from tuberculosis, leprosy, cancer, mental illness, heart or kidney disease, he is entitled to his full salary for a period of leave of six months at half pay .

Here are more details:

• As per Rule 28B of the Telangana State Leave Rules, 1933, NGOs and under Rule 29B, lower grade civil servants suffering from tuberculosis and leprosy are paid their full salary during a period of leave half-salary for six months.
• Subsequently, another Order No. 188, Department of Finance, was issued on July 30, 1973, extending the facility to people suffering from cancer and mental illness.
• Likewise, according to Government Order No. 20, Department of Finance and Planning, dated January 25, 1977, this facility was extended to people suffering from heart diseases.
• Later, another Government Order No. 268, Department of Finance and Planning, dated October 29, 1991, was issued to extend the facility to people suffering from kidney disease.
• Pursuant to Government Order No. 388 of the Department of Finance and Planning dated September 6, 1976, this facility has been extended to all regular government employees and teachers, irrespective of their salary.

(The author is a retired government official)