Promoted Zilla Parishad headmasters get 15 days' earned leave a year, effective January 1, 2023

Promoted headmasters of Zilla Parishad primary schools will now get 15 days of earned leave a year. The Rural Development Department has issued a revised Government Resolution to this effect. During the long summer and Diwali vacations, these headmasters continue to handle the school's office work, government reports and other administrative duties. The way has finally been cleared for leave for them.

The decision will come into force from January 1, 2023, so headmasters will benefit for the earlier period as well. However, the government has made it clear that this leave cannot be encashed.

By way of background, under a Finance Department Government Resolution dated December 6, 1996, the post of promoted headmaster in Zilla Parishad primary schools was declared a post that remains on duty even during long vacations. Given the work that has to be done during vacations, there had been a continuing demand that earned leave be granted in return. The government had accordingly issued a resolution on December 6, 2022. But there was no clarity on encashment of earned leave. That resolution has therefore now been superseded and a new, revised order issued.

Under Rule 54 (2) (a) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1981, 15 days of earned leave has been sanctioned in every calendar year. For this, headmasters are expected to be present and work in the office for at least 30 days during the long vacation. However, they cannot be compelled to come to school merely to mark attendance when there is no work. Nor can any deduction be made from their salary for not being present.

On the days in the vacation when the school's office work is done, the headmaster will have to sign the attendance sheet. If attendance is less than 30 days, earned leave will be granted in the same proportion. If a headmaster is not present at all during the vacation, no earned leave will be granted. If important and urgent school work is not completed on time, the Block Education Officer or the Education Officer can take disciplinary action against the headmaster concerned.

The 15 days of earned leave under this decision can be used only as leave. The government has expressly prohibited its encashment. The decision was issued after obtaining the concurrence of the Finance Department's Expenditure-15 and Service-6 desks.

Meanwhile, nearly 90 per cent of the schools run by local self-government bodies in the state have no eligible headmasters. Senior teachers are therefore holding additional charge. They have to do as much work as promoted headmasters, and in fact more because of the shortage of teachers. A demand is therefore being made that these teachers too be given the benefit of earned leave.