The Haryana government’s Finance Department formalized new provisions for Compensatory Leave on July 3, 2025, through an amendment to the Haryana Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 2016. This significant change specifically details the rules for the grant and mandatory lapse of Compensatory Leave for regular Group C and Group D employees.
๐ผ Defining Compensatory Leave (Rule 77A)
The amendment introduces a new rule, Rule 77A (Compensatory Leave), which clarifies the entitlement and procedure for employees who perform official duties on a notified holiday.
Entitlement: Compensatory Leave is granted to regular Group C and Group D employees for official duty performed on a notified holiday(s).
Exclusion: The leave is not admissible if any financial incentive (such as overtime or special pay) has been granted or is proposed to be granted for the day the duty was performed.
๐๏ธ Grant and Lapse Rules: A Strict Timeline
The most critical part of the amendment establishes a strict, time-bound framework for utilizing the compensatory leave:
| Action | Time Limit | Result if Not Utilized |
| Grant and Availment | The leave must be granted and availed within one month of the official duty performed on the holiday. | The leave shall be deemed to be lapsed (forfeited). |
| Refusal by Authority | If the leave is applied for within the one-month period but is refused by the sanctioning authority: | The employee must utilize the refused leave within the next 15 days, otherwise it shall be deemed to be lapsed. |
This structured timeline ensures that compensatory leave is used promptly and minimizes the accumulation of leave liabilities for the government.
๐ด Combination with Other Leave
The new rules also permit the combination of Compensatory Leave with connected holidays and station leave. However, a significant restriction is placed on the total duration: the total leave spell shall not exceed 16 days in any case.
This amendment provides much-needed clarity on the rights and procedures surrounding Compensatory Leave, streamlining the process for thousands of Group C and D employees who often have to work during holidays to ensure the smooth functioning of government services across Haryana.