Child Care Leave
(IREC - 551)
(1) A woman railway servant having minor children below the age of eighteen years (an offspring of any age in case of disabled children) may be granted Child Care Leave by an authority competent to grant leave, for a maximum period of two years (i.e. 730 days) during the entire service for taking care of up to two children, whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness etc. (Authority: Railway Board's letter No. E (P&A)I-2008/CPC/LE-8 dated 17.10.2018)
(2) During the period of Child Care Leave, she shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
(3) Child Care Leave may be combined with leave of any other kind.
(4) Notwithstanding the requirement of production of medical certificate contained in Rule 527 or sub-rule (1) (ii) of Rule 528, leave of the kind due and admissible (including commuted leave not exceeding 60 days and leave not due) up to a maximum of one year, if applied for, be granted in continuation with child care leave granted under sub-rule (1).
(5) Child Care Leave shall not be granted in more than 3 spells in a calendar year with each spell of Child Care Leave being not less than 5 days.
(Authority: Railway Board's letter No. E (P&A)I-2008/CPC/LE-8 dated 17.10.2018)
(6) Child Care Leave shall be admissible for the two eldest surviving children only.
(7) Child Care Leave cannot be demanded as a matter of right. Under no circumstances can any employee proceed on Child Care Leave without prior proper approval of the leave by the leave sanctioning authority.
(8) The Child Care Leave is to be treated like Leave on Average Pay and sanctioned as such.
(9) Child Care Leave should not ordinarily be granted during the probation period except in case of certain extreme situations where the leave sanctioning authority is fully satisfied about the need of Child Care Leave to the probationer. It may also be ensured that the period for which this leave is sanctioned during probation is minimal.
(10) Child Care Leave shall not be debited against the leave account.
Note 1: The leave account for Child Care Leave shall be maintained in the following format and shall be kept along with the Service Book of the female Railway servant concerned:-
Note 2: Disabled Child having a minimum disability of 40% is elaborated in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Notification No. 16-18/97-NI.I dated 01.06.2001. Documents relating to the handicap as specified in the above said Notification dated 01.06.2001, as well as a certificate from the Railway servant regarding dependency of the child on the Railway servant would have to be submitted by the female Railway employee. The Child Care Leave would be permitted to female Railway employees only if the child is dependent on her.
Note 3: The benefit of encasement of Leave on Average Pay, admissible in terms of Rule 540-A, cannot be availed during Child Care Leave as Child Care Leave is granted for the specific purpose of taking care of a minor child for rearing or for looking after any other needs of the child during examination, sickness etc.
(Authority Board’s letters No. E(P&A)I-2008/CPC/LE-8 dated 23.10.2008, 12.12.2008, 23.04.2010, 04.10.2010 and 08.02.2011. Board’s letters are based on corresponding instructions of DOP&T viz. OM Nos. 13018/2/2008-Estt.(L) dated 11.09.2008, 18.11.2008 & 02.12.2008; 13018/6/2009-Estt.(L) dated 03.03.2010; 13018/1/2010-Estt. dated 07.09.2010 & 30.12.2010 and DOP&T’s Notification No. 11012/1/2001 Estt.(L) dated 01.12.2009.)…ACS NO.116
