Revision of leave sanctioning authorities of GDS – Application of all kinds of admissible leave through online mode: Department of Posts Order

Revision of leave sanctioning authorities of GDS – Application of all kinds of admissible leave through online mode: Department of Posts Order dated 13.08.2026

No. 17-31/2016-GDS (Pt-Leave)
भारत सरकार /Government of India
संचार मंत्रालय /Ministry of Communications
डाक विभाग /Department of Posts
(जीडीएस अनुभाग) /GDS Section

डाक भवन, संसद माग ,
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
नई दिल्‍ली /New Delhi – 110001,
दिनांक/Dated: 13-08-2026

To,

All The Chief Postmasters General.

Subject: Revision of leave sanctioning authorities of GDS reg.

Sir/ Madam,

Consequent upon the revision of the Schedule of Engaging, Disciplinary and Appellate Authorities (SEDA) in respect of Gramin Dak Sevaks vide order dated 26.11.2025, references have been received from various Circles seeking clarification regarding the competent authorities for sanction of leave and approval of substitute arrangements in respect of GDS.

2. In order to ensure uniformity, bring clarity and align the competent authorities for sanction of different kinds of leave with those responsible for approval of substitute arrangements, it is considered necessary to comprehensively review the existing leave provisions for GDS. This will facilitate and ensure smooth management of leave and substitute arrangements for GDS. The Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) are presently entitled to the following categories of leave under the extant instructions:

(i) Paid Leave (PL) : 10 days in each half-year, with the facility to accumulate leave up to a maximum of 45 days without any leave encashment facilities.

(ii) Leave Without Allowance (LWA): Admissible up to 180 days in a calendar year under normal circumstances and beyond 180 days in specified cases as permitted under the extant instructions.

(iii) Emergency Leave: Up to 5 days in a calendar year to meet emergent requirements.

(iv) Maternity Leave: 180 days of paid leave admissible to female GDS in accordance with the prescribed conditions. Maternity leave not exceeding 45 days may also be granted to female Gramin Dak Sevaks (irrespective of the number of surviving children) during the entire service of that female GDS in case of miscarriage, including abortion, on production of a medical certificate issued by a Government Medical Practitioner.

3. The competent authority has examined the leave provision for GDS and revised the Leave sanctioning powers of competent authorities of various kinds of leave to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), as indicated in the table attached as Annexure to this letter. The Revised Leave sanctioning powers of competent authorities in the said table is summarized as under:

1. The changes align the leave sanctioning authorities with the revised SEDA, while consolidating the existing instructions on grant of leave and substitute arrangements.
2. Powers for sanction of Leave Without Allowance (LWA), Paid Leave and Emergency Leave are decentralised by delegating powers to HSG-I Postmasters and Senior Postmasters/Deputy Chief Postmasters/Officers-in-Charge of Independent Units in respect of Dak Sevaks working in their offices. The officer in charge of the Units headed by PS Group B officers and above may further delegate these powers to the officers not below the rank of Inspector (Posts)/HSG-I in that office.
3. The LWA sanctioning power of Sub-Divisional Heads for BPMs is enhanced from 60 days to 90 days, thereby bringing it at par with the existing powers for ABPMs/Dak Sevaks.
4. Consequent upon the above, Divisional Heads/Unit Heads will sanction LWA beyond 90 days and up to 180 days uniformly for all categories of GDS. Existing powers relating to LWA to recognised Union functionaries and GDS officiating as MTS/Postman remain unchanged.
5. The existing power of the Head of Circle to sanction LWA beyond 180 days on grounds of genuine illness is extended to the Head of Region also, facilitating quicker disposal of such cases.
6. No change in the powers of Divisional/Units Heads for sanction of Paid Leave, Emergency Leave and Maternity Leave. However, the powers may be delegated to an officer not below the rank of PS Group B in case of the Units/Divisions headed by the officers above the PS Group B level.
7. No change in the powers of the CPMG for sanction of leave beyond 180 days to recognized National-level GDS Union functionaries.
8. The LWA exceeding 180 days will continue to be in the following situations. i) officiating against MTS/Postman posts, ii) deputation to IPPB or any other office notified by the Department, and iii) cases of genuine illness. (Authorities proposed/specified in the table attached as annexure).
9. The leave sanctioning authority will also be competent to approve substitute arrangements within its delegated leave sanctioning powers. Consequently, the existing guidelines/instructions relating to substitute arrangements will stand superseded.
10. There is already a provision in the APT 2.0 and mobile app for applying for all 17-31/2016-GDS(Pt-Leave) I/360621/2026 kinds of leave by GDS; hence, GDS should apply for all kinds of admissible leave through online mode for online record, speedy approval, and end-to-end tracking. No leave will be approved to GDS in manual mode.

This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

भवदीय/Yours faithfully,

Encl: as above

Sd/-
(गुरविंदर सिंह/ Gurvinder Singh)
सहायक महानिदेशक/ Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC)
ईमेल/Email : adggds426[at]gmail.com

Annexure

(Annexure to letter No. 17-31/2016-GDS (Pt-Leave) dated :- )

1. LWA (Leave Without Allowances)*

2. Paid Leave (Maximum Limit up to 45 days)

3. Emergency Leave (up to 5 days)

4. Maternity Leave (180 days/45 days in case of miscarriage , including abortion)

# only for Dak Sevaks working in the same Post office

$- Officer In-charge may, however, delegate the power to an officer, not below the rank of Inspector Posts/HSG-I in the same office

@ – Except for the Dak Sevaks in the offices (i) and (ii) above

%- Power may be delegated by the Divisional Head/Unit Head to an officer not below the rank of PS Group B Level

* No Leave Without Allowance (LWA) exceeding 180 days will be admissible to a GDS, except where such LWA is granted for officiating against the posts of MTS/Postman, on deputation to IPPB or any other office as may be notified by the Department from time to time, or on the grounds of genuine illness.