‘No Work No Pay’ For Unauthorized Absence of College Staff

Bhubaneswar (Surjit Kumar Dhal): The higher education department yesterday ordered ‘No work no pay’ for unauthorized leave taken by teaching and non-teaching staff of all government and aided colleges who remain on leave without taking permission or sanction of the leave sanctioning authority.

“It is seen during the visit of colleges that a number of teaching and non-teaching employees remain on leave without prior approval of principal or without prior intimation to the principal. It is hereby clarified that as per relevant service rule/leave rule, leave is not a matter of right,” said department secretary Saswat Mishra in a letter to all principals of government and aided colleges of the state.

Mishra said leave should not be granted for participating in any agitation like rally, dharna and demonstration. “If any employee participates in any such agitation by remaining absent from duty that should be treated as unauthorized absence from duty with `No Work No Pay’ principle,” he added.

He said participation in any agitation activity shall be viewed adversely which may lead to premature retirement in case of government employees and withdrawal of government grant-in-aid (GIA) in case of employees of aided colleges receiving government GIA.

He also said principals should ensure that no employee of their respective college participates in any form of agitation. “If any principal sanctions leave in favour of an employee thus helping him to participate in any agitation activity, the principal shall be held responsible for aiding and abetting such activity, he added.