7th Pay commission latest news: Massive relief announced for these central government employees; notification issued

7th Pay Commission latest news: The Central Government has announced big relief to those central government employees who were on leave or on outstation office duty but could not report back on time due to the Coronavirus lockdown being imposed in between. The Centre issued a clarification in regard to the central government employees who were facing the prospect of being marked absent from duty due to the lockdown.

The Department of Personal Training (DoPT) issued an Office Memorandum in this regard and said, "This Department has been receiving several references/ queries from Central Government employees who proceeded on leave, with station leave permission, but could not report for duty due to non-availability of public transport/ flights and restrictions on inter/intra state movement of persons as per Ministry of Home Affairs' Orders from time to time, to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country."

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The DoPT went on to add that the  matter has been considered and the following clarifications relating to regularization of period of absence during the lockdown have been issued in the matter:

1] Situation: Government Servants who were on official tour and were unable to return to their Headquarters (HQs) due to non-availability of Public Transport.

Clarification: Deemed to have joined duty on the date of expiry of official tour, if intimation in any form, indicating difficulty in joining duty due to non-availability of public transport/flights, has been given by the Government servant to the office.

2] Situation: Government servants who were on leave prior to issue of lockdown orders with effect from 25.03.2020 and the leave ended during lockdown period.

Clarification: Deemed to have joined duty from the date of expiry of leave, if intimation in any form, indicating difficulty in joining duty due to non-availability of public transport/flights has been given by the Government servant to the office. In case of leave on medical grounds, this 1s subject to production of medical/fitness certificate.

3] Situation: Government servants who left HQ on the week-end prior to lockdown, 1.e. 20.03.2020 (Friday), but could not return to HQ on 23.03.2020(Monday) due to non-availability of transport.

Clarification: Deemed to have joined on 23.03.2020, if intimation, in any form indicating difficulty in joining duty due to nonavailability of public transport/flights has been given by the Government servant to the office.

4] Situation: Government servants who were on leave prior to issue of orders on lockdown with effect from 25.03.2020 and the leave expired during the lock down period, but who wish to curtail the leave before expiry and join duty.

Clarification: Curtailment of sanctioned leave may not be agreed to, unless allowed by the leave sanctioning authority only in rare cases based on official exigency. From the date following the date of expiry of leave during the period of lockdown, the employee may be deemed to have joined duty.

All the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices are directed to regulate the period of absence strictly as per above clarifications.