Indian Bureaucracy, Bhubaneswar, February 16, 2025| Odisha’s top bureaucrats will now need the Chief Secretary’s approval before taking any leave or leaving headquarters. The Odisha government has made it mandatory for all IAS officers in the state to obtain prior approval from the Chief Secretary before availing leave or leaving their headquarters.
A circular from the General Administration Department or GAD as commonly referred to, without naming any specific officers, cites instances where officers have availed leave or left headquarters without obtaining prior permission, leading to disruptions in official work. To prevent such administrative challenges, the state has now made prior approval from the Chief Secretary a mandatory requirement.
The order, issued under Office Memorandum No. GAD-SER1-MISC-0001-2022-5493/AIS.I on February 13, 2025, emphasises that the GA&PG Department serves as the administrative authority for IAS officers in the state. The directive 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. Additionally, IAS officers must seek approval for temporary absence from their assigned headquarters.
All government departments, heads of departments, regional development commissioners, district collectors, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) have been notified for immediate compliance. The directive also extends to the Governor’s Secretariat, the Odisha Legislative Assembly, and other key administrative offices.
The GAD oversees IAS officers in Odisha, while the Chief Secretary is the top authority of the department.