The General Administration and Public Grievance (GA&PG) Department of Odisha has issued a directive mandating that all Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in the state must obtain prior approval from the Chief Secretary before availing any leave or leaving their headquarters.
This new rule, outlined in an office memorandum on February 13, reinforces the Chief Secretary’s role as the competent authority for sanctioning all types of leave, including Casual Leave (CL), Earned Leave (EL), Child Care Leave (CCL), Commuted Leave, Half Pay Leave, Maternity Leave, and Paternity Leave. Additionally, IAS officers must seek permission before leaving their designated headquarters.
The GA&PG Department noted instances where officers took leave or left their headquarters without approval, causing disruptions in official work. To prevent such occurrences, the directive instructs all IAS officers to strictly adhere to this requirement going forward.
