Elderly parents’ care: Union govt employees could take 60 leaves

New Delhi: The service rules allow 30 days' leave to Central government employees, which can be availed for any personal reason, including that of taking care of elderly parents, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The minister was asked whether there is any provision for government employees to avail leave to take care of their elderly parents, PTI reported.

"The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 provides for 30 days of earned leave, 20 days of half pay leave, eight days of casual leave and two days of restricted holiday per annum, apart from other eligible leaves to a Central government employee, which can be availed for any personal reasons, including that of taking care of elderly parents," Singh said in a written reply.

India Today reports that Central government employees can take up to 60 days of leave every year, which includes the 30 leaves mentioned above. Employees can use these leaves for any purpose, including taking care of their elderly parents, the report says.

However, the report added that the rule on leaves is not new but part of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.

According to Asian News International, Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, which came into effect on June 1, 1972 list out multiple types of leave available to central government employees, including earned leave, half pay leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, child adoption leave, work related illness and injury, seamen's leave, departmental leave, study leave among others.

The rules also state that a female government employee, including an apprentice, who has less than two children, can have 180 days of maternity leave. Meanwhile, a male government employee can take up to 15 days of paternity leave.