Ahead of the crucial three-tier Panchayat elections in the State, the Odisha government on Tuesday announced grant of special casual leave to government employees and employees of government undertakings in order to enable them to exercise their franchise.
In a letter to all principal secretaries, heads of departments and all district Collectors, the Panchayati Raj and DW Department has asked to grant Special Casual Leave to employees who desire to vote at places away from their headquarters on the date of the poll.
The Special Casual Leave will be granted for a maximum period of three days - one day preceding the poll, one day after the poll and the poll day.
“The leave to be granted may be treated as Special Casual Leave in addition to normal casual leave admissible to them during the calendar year 2022. The written application by the employees will be sufficient to show their enrolment in a particular Gram Panchayat,” the letter read.
The department has further clarified that the written application by the employees will be sufficient to show their enrolment in a particular Gram Panchayat.
“The Head of Offices granting the Special Casual Leave will determine the number of days of Special Casual Leave (not exceeding 3 days) to be sanctioned. Ordinarily, the employees should not be restrained from exercising their franchise and should be given all possible facilities. The provision of sparing of staff without any detriment to the official work should be liberally interpreted,” the letter added.