Odisha IAS Officers Now Require Chief Secretary’s Approval for Leave and HQ Absence

Bhubaneswar: The General Administration and Public Grievance (GA&PG) Department has mandated that all IAS officers in Odisha must secure prior approval from the Chief Secretary before availing any kind of leave or leaving their headquarters.

The new guideline, issued through an official memorandum on February 13, applies to all categories of leave, including Casual Leave (CL), Earned Leave (EL), Child Care Leave (CCL), Commuted Leave, Half Pay Leave, Maternity Leave, and Paternity Leave, as well as permissions to leave headquarters.

The department noted that some officers had been taking leave or leaving their headquarters without prior approval, causing disruptions in official work. The memorandum reinforces the need for strict compliance with the approval process to maintain smooth governance and administrative functioning.