Half Pay Leave (HPL) is a form of earned leave granted to Haryana Government employees at half of their basic pay. It is meant for illness, personal reasons, or other valid grounds. The rules governing HPL are laid down under Rules 37 to 39 of the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2016.
HPL is automatically credited to the employee’s leave account every year and can also be converted into Commuted Leave (full pay) under certain conditions. It counts towards qualifying service for pension and other benefits.
1️⃣ Applicability
- Applicable to all regular Haryana Government employees (Group A, B, C, and D).
- Not applicable to employees working in vacation departments like Education, unless otherwise specified.
- Admissible from the date of appointment on regular service (no waiting period).
2️⃣ Credit of Half Pay Leave (Rule 37)
Half Pay Leave is credited to the leave account in **advance** in two equal installments every year:
| Credit Date | Days Credited | Total in Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1st January | 10 days | 20 days per calendar year |
| 1st July | 10 days |
Important Notes:
- Credit is subject to the employee having completed 6 months of service on the date of credit.
- For employees joining after 1st January or 1st July, HPL is credited **proportionally** for the remaining half-year.
- HPL account is maintained in **Form 9** of the leave register as per the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules format.
3️⃣ Calculation of Half Pay Leave for Fractional Service
If an employee has not completed a full half-year on the date of credit, leave is credited at the rate of 2.5 days per completed month of service.
Example:
If an employee joins service on 1st April, the first HPL credit on 1st July will be for 2.5 × 3 = 7.5 days (rounded to nearest day).
4️⃣ When Half Pay Leave Can Be Granted (Rule 38)
HPL may be granted for any of the following purposes:
- Medical treatment of the employee or a dependent family member.
- Private affairs of a serious nature requiring absence from duty.
- Rest and recovery after long official duty or strain (with approval).
- Combination with other types of leave (Earned, Commuted, or EOL).
However, granting HPL is not a right — it depends on the discretion of the competent authority.
5️⃣ Leave Salary During Half Pay Leave
During the period of Half Pay Leave, the employee receives:
- Half of Basic Pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
- Dearness Allowance (DA) on the half pay.
- No HRA is admissible unless specifically permitted.
Leave salary is payable in Indian rupees and treated as continuous service.
6️⃣ Combination and Conversion of HPL (Rule 38(2))
Combination:
- HPL can be combined with:
- Earned Leave (EL)
- Commuted Leave
- Extraordinary Leave (EOL)
- Combination with Casual Leave or Maternity Leave is not permitted.
Conversion:
HPL can be converted into Commuted Leave (Full Pay) if supported by a medical certificate or other valid reason, subject to availability of HPL balance.
- Each day of Commuted Leave = Two days of Half Pay Leave.
- If the employee resigns or retires before completing 3 years after availing Commuted Leave, the difference of leave salary is recovered.
7️⃣ Half Pay Leave during Suspension or Extraordinary Leave
- No HPL is credited during the period of suspension.
- If an employee is under suspension but later reinstated, HPL credit may be restored on the basis of “duty treated as spent on duty” orders.
- Period of Extraordinary Leave (EOL) does not count for HPL credit.
8️⃣ Half Pay Leave for Vacation Department Employees (Rule 39)
Employees in vacation departments (e.g., Education, Judicial, Technical) are normally not entitled to HPL since they avail vacations. However, under Rule 39:
- They are allowed 10 days of Earned Leave per completed year of service in lieu of HPL.
- If they do not avail the full vacation due to official duties, the unavailed portion can be treated as earned leave.
Note: Teaching staff who serve full vacation period get no HPL credit for that year.
9️⃣ Accumulation and Carry Forward
- HPL can be accumulated **without any limit** during entire service.
- Unused HPL is credited for pension and leave encashment purposes as per government rules.
- HPL standing to credit can be used for Commuted Leave (full pay) or Leave Not Due (advance leave) as needed.
🔟 Record Maintenance and Verification
- Each employee’s HPL account must be verified yearly by the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO).
- Entries must be certified in Form 9 and attested by the controlling officer.
- HPL balance should match with service book entries during audit inspection.
✅ Summary Table – Half Pay Leave (HPL) at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | All regular employees (except vacation staff) |
| Credit | 10 days each on 1st January and 1st July (20 days/year) |
| Purpose | Illness, personal affairs, rest, or medical reasons |
| Leave Salary | Half Basic Pay + DA |
| Combination Allowed With | EL, EOL, Commuted Leave (not with CL or Maternity) |
| Conversion | Can be converted to Commuted Leave (2 HPL = 1 Commuted Leave) |
| Accumulation | Unlimited |
| Credit Suspension | Not admissible during suspension/EOL |
| Rule Reference | Rules 37–39, HCS (Leave) Rules, 2016 |
FAQs on Half Pay Leave (HPL) – Haryana Government Employees
1. How many days of Half Pay Leave are credited every year?
20 days are credited annually — 10 days on 1st January and 10 days on 1st July.
2. Can Half Pay Leave be converted into full pay leave?
Yes, it can be converted into Commuted Leave with a medical certificate, where 2 HPL = 1 Commuted Leave day.
3. Is HPL credited during suspension or extraordinary leave?
No, HPL is not credited for the period spent under suspension or on Extraordinary Leave.
4. Can Half Pay Leave be combined with Earned Leave?
Yes, it can be combined with EL or EOL but not with Casual or Maternity Leave.
5. Does Half Pay Leave affect pension or increments?
No, it counts as qualifying service for pension and increment, provided the leave is duly sanctioned.
6. How is HPL credited if an employee joins mid-year?
It is credited proportionally at the rate of 2.5 days per completed month of service till the next half-yearly credit date.
Conclusion
The Half Pay Leave (HPL) Rules under the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2016 ensure that government employees can take time off for medical or personal reasons without losing service continuity. With biannual credits (January and July), flexible usage, and full pension benefits, HPL is a crucial part of the employee welfare framework.
Official Source: Finance Department, Government of Haryana