This Office Memorandum addresses the regularization of absence for Central Government employees who were unable to report for duty during the COVID-19 lockdown due to travel restrictions and other related issues. It clarifies situations for those on official tours, leave, or who left headquarters before the lockdown, outlining conditions under which they will be deemed to have rejoined duty. The memorandum emphasizes adherence to previous guidelines issued on July 28, 2020, and requests that all Ministries/Departments regulate absences accordingly, minimizing further references to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). It also addresses the curtailment of sanctioned leave and the need for official exigency for approval.
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No. 13020/1/2019-Estt(L)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Old JNU Campus, New Delhi 110067
Dated: 01.03.2021
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Clarification on regularization of absence during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period – regarding.
This Department has been receiving several references requesting for clarification relating to regularization of absence during COVID-19 epidemic lockdown period.
- In this regard, it is stated that this Department has already issued a clarification on regularization of absence during COVID-19 lockdown period vide DoPT’s OM no. 14029/5/2020-Estt.(L)(pt.) dated 28.07.2020 (copy enclosed).
- It is further clarified that this Department’s OM dated 28.07.2020 has been issued in view of the circumstances that the country is going through due to COVID-19 situations and the unavoidable problems faced by the Government employees in different sectors under the Government of India. A general terminology has been adopted to cover all kinds of problems faced by the employees due to COVID-19 situation. The said OM may not touch all specific circumstantial problems faced by all employees under the Government of India; however, an interpretation of such circumstances in congruence with the clarification made in the above OM is adoptable.
- Therefore, all Ministries / Departments may examine cases relating to regularization of absence during COVID-19 lockdown period in the light of this Department’s OM dated 28.07.2020 referred to above and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time.
(Sunil Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
To:
All Ministries/Departments as per standard mailing list
F.No.14029/5/2019-Estt.(L)(Pt.2)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Old JNU Campus, New Delhi 110 067
Dated: 28.07.2020
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Clarification on regularization of absence during COVID-19 epidemic lockdown period – regarding.
This Department has been receiving several references/queries from Central Government employees who proceeded on leave, with station leave permission, but could not report for duty due to non-availability of public transport / flights and restrictions on inter/intra state movement of persons as per Ministry of Home Affairs’ Orders from time to time, to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The matter has been considered and the following clarifications relating to regularization of period of absence during the period of lockdown are issued in the matter :-
| Sl. No. | Situation | Clarification |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Government Servants who were on official tour and were unable to return to their Headquarters (HQs) due to non-availability of Public Transport. | Deemed to have joined duty on the date of expiry of official tour, if intimation in any form, indicating difficulty in joining duty due to non-availability of public transport/flights, has been given by the Government servant to the office. |
| 2. | Government servants who were on leave prior to issue of lockdown orders with effect from 25.03.2020 and the leave ended during lockdown period. | Deemed to have joined duty from the date of expiry of leave, if intimation in any form, indicating difficulty in joining duty due to non-availability of public transport/flights has been given by the Government servant to the office. In case of leave on medical grounds, this is subject to production of medical/fitness certificate. |
| 3. | Government servants who left HQ on the week-end prior to lockdown, i.e. 20.03.2020 (Friday), but could not return to HQ on 23.03.2020(Monday) due to non-availability of transport. | Deemed to have joined on 23.03.2020, if intimation, in any form indicating difficulty in joining duty due to non-availability of public transport/flights has been given by the Government servant to the office. |
| 4. | Government servants who were on leave prior to issue of orders on lockdown with effect from 25.03.2020 and the leave expired during the lock down period, but who wish to curtail the leave before expiry and join duty. | Curtailment of sanctioned leave may not be agreed to, unless allowed by the leave sanctioning authority only in rare cases based on official exigency. From the date following the date of expiry of leave during the period of lockdown, the employee may be deemed to have joined duty. |
| :–: | :–: | :–: |
- All the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices are directed to regulate the period of absence strictly as per above clarifications and unnecessary references to DoPT on the subject may be avoided.
(Satyajit Mishra)
Joint Secretary to the Government of India
To:
- All the Ministries / Departments of Government of India.
- NIC Cell, DoPT, with a request for uploading on the website of this Department.