The Delhi government has tightened leave rules for senior officers, directing additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of departments to inform the Chief Minister and the ministers concerned before proceeding on any leave, including casual leave.
The instruction was reiterated in an order issued on Wednesday by Services Secretary Nandini Paliwal. The order said earlier directions on leave were not being followed and that the matter had been viewed seriously by the Chief Minister.
Under the reiterated instructions, officers of the rank of head of department and above must send copies of their leave applications to the Secretary to the Chief Minister. The Services Department warned that failure to comply would be viewed adversely and could invite action.
The directive places the leave process for senior officials within a wider administrative reporting chain involving the Chief Minister’s Office and the ministers responsible for individual departments. It applies to all forms of leave, including casual leave, according to the report.
The order follows earlier directions requiring senior officers to inform the Chief Minister and the relevant ministers before taking leave. Officials cited in the report described unauthorised absence by senior officers as a “chronic” issue despite repeated instructions.
The issue concerns officers who head departments or hold senior secretariat positions, where leave arrangements can affect the continuity of administrative work and the availability of decision-makers. The latest order does not announce a new leave category or a revised duration of leave; instead, it reiterates the approval and information requirements already issued by the government.
Last year, some departments were also instructed to submit leave requests through WhatsApp, according to the report. The latest direction adds that copies of applications from heads of departments and above must be sent to the Secretary to the Chief Minister.
The Services Department has warned that non-compliance may lead to action. The order does not specify in the supplied report what form that action could take or identify individual officers against whom proceedings have been initiated.
