Casual Leave (CL) Rules 2026: Combination Limit & ‘Sandwich’ Holiday Benefit
Updated: 24 January 2026 | Applies: All Central Govt Employees
Combination Warning: Never apply for CL and EL together. If you do, the entire period (including holidays) may be treated as Earned Leave, ruining your leave balance.
Casual Leave (CL) is the most flexible leave available to Central Government employees. Unlike Earned Leave, it is not treated as an “absence from duty,” meaning your pay status remains uninterrupted. However, strict combination rules apply.
ЁЯзо LEAVE & SALARY TOOLS
The “Sandwich” Rule: CL vs. EL
The biggest advantage of CL is how it treats intervening holidays.
| Scenario | If you take CL | If you take EL |
|---|---|---|
| Leave taken on: | Friday & Monday | Friday & Monday |
| Intervening Holidays: | Sat & Sun (Weekly Off) | Sat & Sun (Weekly Off) |
| Days Debited: | 2 Days (Fri, Mon) | 4 Days (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) |
| Conclusion: | Holidays are Free. | Holidays are counted as Leave. |
Combination Rules: What is Allowed?
You cannot mix all types of leaves. Use this grid to plan:
- ALLOWED: CL + Restricted Holiday (RH) + Special Casual Leave (SCL).
- BANNED: CL + Earned Leave (EL) + Half Pay Leave (HPL) + Commuted Leave.
Example: You cannot take CL on Friday and EL on Monday. You must convert both to EL or both to CL.
Half-Day CL & LTC Rules
1. Half-Day Leave:
CL is the ONLY leave that can be taken for half a day (Morning or Afternoon session). EL and HPL must be taken for full days.
2. LTC on Casual Leave:
Yes, you can avail Leave Travel Concession (LTC) while on Casual Leave. The minimum period rule (e.g., 5 days for CCL) does not apply to CL.
Entitlement (Days per Year)
- Office Staff (5-Day Week): 8 Days.
- Office Staff (6-Day Week): 12 Days.
- Industrial Workers: As per Standing Orders (usually 12).
рд╕рд░рд▓ рд╢рдмреНрджреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ: рдЖрдХрд╕реНрдорд┐рдХ рдЕрд╡рдХрд╛рд╢ (CL) рдирд┐рдпрдо
1. рдХреЙрдореНрдмрд┐рдиреЗрд╢рди рдордирд╛ рд╣реИ: CL рдХреЛ рдХрднреА рднреА EL (рдЕрд░реНрдЬрд┐рдд рдЕрд╡рдХрд╛рд╢) рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдирд╣реАрдВ рдЬреЛрдбрд╝ рд╕рдХрддреЗред
2. рдЫреБрдЯреНрдЯрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдлреНрд░реА рд╣реИрдВ: рдЕрдЧрд░ рдЖрдк рд╢реБрдХреНрд░рд╡рд╛рд░ рдФрд░ рд╕реЛрдорд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА CL рд▓реЗрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рддреЛ рдмреАрдЪ рдХрд╛ рд╢рдирд┐рд╡рд╛рд░-рд░рд╡рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдЖрдкрдХреА рдЫреБрдЯреНрдЯреА рдореЗрдВ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдЧрд┐рдирд╛ рдЬрд╛рдПрдЧрд╛ред (EL рдореЗрдВ рдпрд╣ рдЧрд┐рди рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ)ред
3. рдЖрдзрд╛ рджрд┐рди: рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ CL рд╣реА рдРрд╕реА рдЫреБрдЯреНрдЯреА рд╣реИ рдЬреЛ “рдЖрдзреЗ рджрд┐рди” (Half Day) рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд▓реА рдЬрд╛ рд╕рдХрддреА рд╣реИред
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