Casual Leave and the Draconian Order Issued by JKBOSE
Casual Leave (CL) is a provision under Civil Service Rules that allows government employees short-term paid leave for unforeseen or urgent personal matters. It is not a privilege but a concession, meant to accommodate sudden exigencies without disrupting workflow. However, a recent order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) regarding the monitoring of casual leave has raised concerns about its restrictive and authoritarian nature.
Casual Leave: A Fundamental Workplace Flexibility
Key Features of Casual Leave
- Purpose: Intended for unforeseen personal matters, emergencies, or short-duration absences.
- Entitlement: Central Government employees are generally allowed 8 days of CL per calendar year but in case of State govt &JKUT these are 15 in number.
- Usage: Can be availed for at least half a day, but cannot be combined with Earned Leave (EL).
- Carry Forward: CL cannot be carried forward to the next year.
- Sundays & Holidays: Not counted within the CL period if they fall in between the leave duration.
- Approval: Subject to prior sanction by the competent authority; not a right but a discretionary privilege.
Casual Leave is a critical component of workplace well-being, ensuring employees can tend to personal matters without suffering a financial penalty. However, JKBOSE’s recent directive on casual leave has raised serious concerns about employee rights and workplace ethics.
JKBOSE’s Draconian Circular: A Blow to Employee Autonomy
On March 25, 2025, JKBOSE issued Circular No. 24-ADMN(C) of 2025, imposing harsh restrictions on the casual leave process. Key highlights of this circular include:
- Daily Reporting of Leave: The administration must be informed on a daily basis about employees availing casual leave. This increases bureaucratic red tape and unnecessarily micromanages staff leave records.
- Strict Disciplinary Action: Unauthorized absences will result in salary deductions and disciplinary measures, creating a culture of fear rather than productivity.
- Restrictions on Movement: Officials cannot leave the office premises during working hours after marking attendance in the morning. This implies extreme surveillance, treating employees like school children rather than professionals.
- Truancy Allegations: Any employee leaving without explicit permission will be labeled as a “truant,” and the incident will be recorded in their service records, potentially affecting future career prospects.
Why This Order is Problematic
1. Violation of Workplace Trust
Casual leave is a standard benefit for government employees. By imposing daily reporting requirements, JKBOSE effectively demonstrates a lack of trust in its workforce. Instead of empowering employees, it fosters an environment of suspicion and excessive oversight.
2. Excessive Bureaucratic Control
The requirement for daily and monthly intimation of casual leave makes the process unnecessarily rigid. Instead of simplifying operations, this measure creates additional administrative burden on both the HR department and employees.
3. Employee Surveillance & Micro-Management
Barring employees from leaving office premises after marking attendance is an unprecedented and excessive restriction. Employees may have valid reasons to step out, such as medical emergencies, personal obligations, or fieldwork. The order’s wording suggests that even a brief absence may be treated as misconduct, which is highly unreasonable.
4. Threat to Employee Morale and Mental Health
This authoritarian approach to casual leave will likely lead to stress, job dissatisfaction, and demoralization. Employees will feel chained to their desks, afraid to even step out, which will negatively impact productivity rather than enhance it.
5. Setting a Dangerous Precedent
If such draconian policies become the norm, it will erode workplace flexibility across government institutions. Employees may feel hesitant to take even their rightful leaves, leading to burnout and decreased efficiency in the long run.
Conclusion: JKBOSE Must Reconsider This Policy
JKBOSE’s circular on casual leave does not align with modern workplace norms. It reflects an outdated, authoritarian mindset that treats employees as untrustworthy subordinates rather than responsible professionals. While ensuring discipline is important, such extreme measures will only create resentment and fear rather than accountability.
Instead of imposing unnecessary restrictions, JKBOSE should focus on improving employee engagement, fostering mutual trust, and ensuring a balanced leave policy that respects both work commitments and personal needs. A workplace thrives on flexibility, fairness, and respect—not rigid control and punitive measures.
The education sector, which should be setting an example for progressive work culture, must not become a testing ground for draconian administrative policies. JKBOSE must revoke or amend this circular to align with best practices in human resource management and ensure a work environment that is both disciplined and humane.
