Postal Leave Rules Made Clear: Avoid Rejection, Salary Loss & Warnings

Postal Leave Rules Made Clear: Avoid Rejection, Salary Loss & Warnings

Leave Rules: Are you also confused about leave rules for postal employees? When I joined the Postal Department, I kept asking snior officials, but their explanations only made things more confusing. No one could clearly explain the exact leave rules.

A single wrong choice can lead to leave rejection, salary deduction, or official warnings. This practical guide breaks down postal leave rules in simple terms, explaining what to apply, when to apply, and what mistakes to avoid. From Casual Leave and Earned Leave to Medical, Commuted, CCL, and EOL, this article helps postal employees make the right leave decisions every time. Read before applying for leave and protect your pay, service record, and future benefits.

The golden rule is simple:

Right leave based on the situation is SAFE.
Wrong leave selection becomes a PROBLEM.

Let’s understand each leave type, its usage, and consequences.

Leave Application & Discipline Rules

Best Practices

• Apply leave in advance whenever possible
• Inform office immediately in emergencies
• Get approval before leave

Strict Rule

Unauthorized absence = No approval = Pay cut

Casual Leave (CL) – Short and Simple Leave

Eligibility & Availability

• 8 days per year
• Credited once every calendar year
• Cannot be carried forward

When to Use

• Short personal needs
• Fever, minor illness (1–2 days)
• Cannot be combined with HPL or EL
• Maximum 05 in one stance with approval of higher officials.

Examples

• 1 day CL for fever → Approved
• CL for school meeting → Approved

Don’ts

• Do not use CL for long durations
• Do not combine CL with EL or HPL

Consequences

• CL + EL/HPL applied → Leave rejected

Repeated misuse → Official warning (no increment impact initially)

Restricted Holiday (RH) – Optional Festival Leave

Availability

• 2 days per year
• From the notified holiday list only

Usage Rules

• Can be used only on notified days
• Can be combined with CL
• Lapses if not used in the year

Consequence Example

RH + EL applied → Leave rejected and changed to EL

Earned Leave (EL) – The Safest Leave

Availability

• 30 days per year
• Credited every half-year (January & July)

Accumulation Rules

• Maximum balance: 300 days
• Excess balance automatically lapses

When to Use

• Long personal or family leave
• Can be combined with HPL or Commuted Leave

Examples

• 12 days EL for village visit → Approved
• 20 days EL for surgery → approved with Full pay

Benefits

• Full salary during leave
• EL beyond 300 days converts to Leave Not Due (LND)
• EL encashment benefit at retirement

Medical Leave – Important Clarification

There is NO separate leave called “Medical Leave”.

Applicable Leaves for Medical Reasons

• Half Pay Leave (HPL)
• Commuted Leave
• Leave Not Due (LND)

Common Error

Applying “Medical Leave” directly → Converted to HPL

Half Pay Leave (HPL)

Usage

• Medical or personal reasons
• Half salary paid
• Can be combined with EL or Commuted Leave

Example

• HPL exhausted → LND approved

Commuted Leave (Medical – Full Pay)

Rules

• 1 day Commuted Leave  = 2 days HPL
• Medical grounds only
• Full salary paid

Examples

• 10 days illness → 20 HPL debited, full pay given
• Used for medical reasons only

Important Note

• Commuted Leave is only a conversion of HPL

Not a separate leave type

Leave Not Due (LND)

When Applicable

• HPL exhausted
• Maximum 20 days at a time

Authority

• Approved by competent authority only

Warning

Repeated LND usage invites scrutiny

Maternity & Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave

• 180 days per childbirth
• Full pay
• Can be combined with EL or HPL

Example

• 130 days maternity leave → Full salary approved

Paternity Leave

• 15 days
• Must be used within 6 months of childbirth of before 15 days of confining
• Full pay

Example

• Applied within 2 months → Approved
• Applied after 7 months → Rejected

Child Care Leave (CCL)

Eligibility

• Total 730 days in entire service

Pay Structure

• First 365 days → Full pay
• Next 365 days → 80% pay

Usage

• Child care or examinations

Examples

• 20 days CCL for child illness → Approved

Extraordinary Leave (EOL)

When Used

• All other leaves exhausted

Pay

• No salary

Impact

• May affect increment and pension

Examples

• 20 days EOL → Salary stopped

Long EOL → Increment postponed

Leave Combination Rules (Crucial)

Allowed Combinations

• RH+EL- Rejected 
• EL + CL- Rejected 
• CL+EOL- Rejected 
• CL+ RH- approved
• HPL + EL- approved
• CCL + EL/HPL (with approval)

Wrong Combination Results

• Leave rejection or modification
• Salary loss

Negative service record entry

Medical Certificate Rules

Requirements

• Certificate must be from an authorized hospital
• Must cover the exact leave period

Outcomes

• Valid certificate → Leave approved

Doubtful certificate → Disciplinary action

Conclusion

Leave rules are not just formalities—they directly affect your salary, service record, and future benefits. 

The message is clear:

Right Leave = No Problem
Wrong Leave = Risk to Salary & Service Future

Every postal employee must understand leave rules clearly to avoid unnecessary trouble. Selecting the correct leave protects your salary, increments, and service record.

Stay informed, apply wisely, and always follow the correct leave procedure.

Also read this

Child Care Leave Rules: A Guide to Eligibility, Benefits, and Conditions

Maternity Leave Rules: A Simple Guide for Government Servants

Paternity Leave: A Comprehensive Guide for Government Servants