West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The move that comes as a major relief to lakhs of state government employees across West Bengal, the state administration has lifted the restrictions that were earlier imposed on casual and earned leaves. The latest directive allows government employees to apply for and avail pending leaves that had been withheld due to previous administrative or electoral requirements.

The announcement was confirmed through a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR), which stated that all government departments, directorates, and local bodies under the state are now instructed to process leave applications as per standard leave rules without any additional restrictions in force.

This decision comes after months of limited leave permissions, primarily due to the continuous deployment of staff for civic duties, including the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Over the last few months, various state government employees, including clerks, teachers, health workers, and administrative officials, had been either denied or deferred leaves due to "urgent public interest," as cited by the administration.

The move to allow pending leaves was reportedly taken after internal review meetings where employee unions and departmental heads raised concerns over staff burnout, health issues, and family obligations being ignored due to prolonged restrictions. Many employees had accumulated leave balances, including casual leave (CL), earned leave (EL), and even medical leave, which had not been sanctioned for over two to three months in some cases.

One senior official from the Writers’ Building stated that while the government had initially tightened leave policies to ensure uninterrupted public service delivery and polling-related duties, the situation has now normalized, and there's a need to address staff welfare. “With the elections now over and most government departments returning to their regular pace of work, we feel it is the right time to restore normalcy in administrative processes, including the sanctioning of leaves,” the official said.

Employees’ associations have welcomed the move, calling it a "necessary and humane" decision. “Many of our colleagues were under tremendous pressure, working without breaks for weeks, especially those involved in election duty. This relaxation comes not just as an administrative change, but as a moral support to employees who have served selflessly,” said a spokesperson of the West Bengal State Government Employees Federation.

However, the P&AR department has advised department heads to ensure that the granting of leaves does not hamper essential services. It has been suggested that leave approvals be staggered in such a way that no key government function is disrupted. In departments like health, transport, and revenue collection, leave applications are expected to be processed in phases to ensure minimum disruption.

Educational institutions run by the state government, including schools and colleges, will also follow the new directive. Teachers who were previously denied casual leave or duty leave for personal reasons during the election period can now reapply under the revised guidelines. The School Education Department is expected to issue a separate circular clarifying the protocol for teachers and non-teaching staff.

This development also aligns with the government's larger focus on improving employee morale and maintaining administrative efficiency. By allowing employees to take time off for personal and medical needs, the state aims to reduce work-related stress and enhance productivity in the long run.

As the government machinery returns to a more balanced state post-elections, the easing of leave restrictions stands as a timely gesture, ensuring that those who keep the state running are also given the space to recharge, recover, and attend to their personal lives.