COVID19: Centre Relaxes Leave Rules For Officials Over 50 Years With Medical Conditions

In order to perpetuate social distancing for containing the coronavirus outbreak, the office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) states that those officials who are above 50 years of age having underlying conditions, i.e. Diabetes, Respiratory problems, Renal diseases and other life-threatening illness shall be granted leave.

"To sanction leave to officials who wish to self-quarantine, as a preventive measure. In this regard, in relaxation of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972, it has now been decided with the approval of competent authority to grant Commuted leave without production of medical certificate to those officials who are above 5o years of age and have underlying conditions, i.e., Diabetes, Respiratory problems, Rena diseases and other life-threatening illness, for a period upto 4^th April 2020, so as to avoid unnecessary burden on the health care system" the Department states.

In a related news, Senior Advocate S.K. Rungta, on behalf of the Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities and in capacity as General Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind has also requested the DoPT to exempt blind employees from attending office as they are dependent on touch functions for their mobility & work.