Image Source: THE HINDU

The Tamil Nadu government has suspended the encashment of earned leave for a year initially in view of the financial position, as the State is fighting COVID-19. Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam issued a government order to this effect on Monday. In view of the fiscal stress arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the periodical surrender of earned leave for encashment for 15 days every year/30 days every two years, as provided under Rule 7A of the Tamil Nadu Leave Rules, 1933 is suspended initially for a period of one year to all the government employees and teachers, the order said. All surrender requests and bills pending as on date irrespective of their stage of sanction and disbursement shall not be processed, it said. In cases where sanction orders have been issued, they are to be cancelled and earned leave be re-credited to the leave account of the respective employees, the government order stated. It also added that the decision was applicable to all Constitutional / Statutory bodies, including all State corporations, local bodies, boards, universities, commissions, companies, institutions and societies.