Earned Leave (EL) is the most common and important kind of leave available to Haryana Government employees. It allows employees to take time off for personal reasons, vacations, or rest, while still receiving full pay. The rules for Earned Leave are covered under Rule 35–36 of the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2016.
Earned Leave is calculated based on the period of duty and may differ for employees working in vacation and non-vacation departments. This article explains every rule, limit, and condition in simple words.
1️⃣ What is Earned Leave (EL)?
Earned Leave means the leave earned by a government employee in respect of the period spent on duty. It is credited to the leave account and can be accumulated or encashed as per rules.
It is also called Privilege Leave in some departments.
2️⃣ Eligibility and Applicability
- Applicable to all regular Haryana Government employees.
- Not applicable to employees of the vacation wing (like teaching staff who get long vacations).
- The calculation of EL begins from the date of joining the service on a regular post.
3️⃣ Rate of Earned Leave Accrual (Rule 35)
The rate of EL depends on the employee’s total length of service.
| Length of Service | Rate of Earned Leave | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| First 10 years of service | 1/24th of the period spent on duty | Approximately 15 days per year |
| Next 10 years (11–20 years) | 1/18th of the period spent on duty | Approximately 20 days per year |
| After 20 years of service | 1/12th of the period spent on duty | Approximately 30 days per year |
Example: An employee with 15 years of service earns 15 days for the first 10 years and 20 days per year thereafter.
4️⃣ Maximum Earned Leave That Can Be Granted (Rule 35(ii))
The competent authority may grant EL up to the following limits:
| Where Leave is Spent | Maximum Limit | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Within India | Up to 365 days | May include holidays if prefixed or suffixed properly. |
| Outside India | Up to 500 days | Out of these, leave spent in India should not exceed 365 days in total. |
Note: Earned Leave may be accumulated without any upper limit, but grant beyond these limits needs approval from the Finance Department.
5️⃣ Sanctioning Authority for Earned Leave
| Category of Employee | Authority Competent to Sanction | Maximum Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Group C & D Employees | Head of Office | Up to 120 days (within or outside India) |
| Group A & B Employees | Head of Office | Up to 30 days (within or outside India) |
| All Employees under their control | Head of Department | Up to 240 days |
| All Employees (final authority) | Administrative Department | Up to 365 days in India, 500 days abroad |
Note: Earned Leave exceeding these powers requires prior approval from the Finance Department.
6️⃣ Earned Leave for Employees of Vacation Wings (Rule 36)
Employees of vacation departments (like Education, Judicial, or Technical Institutions) get vacations instead of regular earned leave. However, they are entitled to limited EL as per the following rules:
(a) General Rule:
If an employee avails the full vacation, they are not entitled to earned leave for that year.
(b) Exception for Teaching Staff:
Teachers are entitled to 10 days earned leave per completed year of service in lieu of Half Pay Leave, in addition to the regular vacation period.
Condition: No such leave is admissible during the first year of service.
(c) Partial Vacation Case:
If an employee is required to work during part of the vacation due to training or official work, they earn EL in proportion to the vacation not availed.
| Service Length | Maximum EL Admissible if Vacation Not Availed |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 years | 15 days |
| More than 10 years but ≤ 20 years | 20 days |
| More than 20 years | 30 days |
If the employee is denied more than 15 days of vacation, they are considered to have not availed any vacation that year and full earned leave applies.
(d) List of Employees Treated as Vacation Wing
- Judicial officers and staff in process-serving establishments.
- Teaching staff and laboratory attendants of government schools and colleges (excluding clerical and ministerial staff).
- Technical and engineering college faculty members (excluding administrative and support staff).
- Teaching staff of Government Footwear Institute, Rewari.
- Pharmacy teaching staff in medical institutions.
Note: The concerned Administrative Department can declare any additional post as belonging to the vacation wing if justified.
7️⃣ Accumulation and Carry Forward of Earned Leave
- Earned leave can be accumulated without any fixed ceiling.
- Encashment or sanction beyond 365/500 days requires Finance Department approval.
- Unutilized EL remains in credit even after transfer between departments.
8️⃣ Earned Leave Encashment (Brief)
Encashment of unutilized Earned Leave is permitted:
- On retirement or resignation (except dismissal/removal).
- Up to a maximum of 300 days as per current government orders.
- In case of death or disappearance, payable to legal heirs.
Full details are given under Chapter XII – Leave Encashment Rules.
9️⃣ Key Points and Exceptions
- EL cannot be claimed as a right — it requires prior sanction.
- Prefixing or suffixing holidays to EL is permissible as per Rule 28.
- Unauthorized absence will not count toward EL calculation.
- Earned leave exceeding 5 years of continuous absence is not allowed.
✅ Summary Table – Earned Leave at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | All regular employees except vacation staff |
| Accrual Rate | 1/24 → 1/18 → 1/12 as service length increases |
| Maximum Grant in India | 365 days |
| Maximum Grant Abroad | 500 days |
| Carry Forward | Unlimited |
| Encashment | Up to 300 days (as per rules) |
| Rules Covered | Rule 35–36, HCS (Leave) Rules, 2016 |
FAQs on Earned Leave (EL) – Haryana Government Employees
1. How is earned leave calculated for Haryana government employees?
Earned leave is calculated based on service length — 1/24, 1/18, or 1/12 of duty period depending on the total years of service.
2. Can earned leave be carried forward to the next year?
Yes, there is no limit on accumulation of earned leave under Haryana Government rules.
3. What is the maximum earned leave that can be sanctioned?
Up to 365 days if spent in India and 500 days if partly or fully spent abroad.
4. Are teaching staff eligible for earned leave?
Yes, but only 10 days per year in lieu of half pay leave, provided they are in a vacation wing and not in their first year of service.
5. Can earned leave be encashed on retirement?
Yes, up to 300 days as per government orders, provided the employee was not dismissed or removed.
Conclusion
The Earned Leave Rules under the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2016 ensure that every government employee gets adequate rest and flexibility. By understanding accrual rates, maximum limits, and encashment provisions, employees can plan their leaves efficiently and avoid loss of leave benefits.
Official source: Finance Department, Government of Haryana