Gangtok, Sikkim – The State Government of Sikkim has announced significant changes to the procedures governing the granting of Sabbatical Leave for its employees. The Department of Personnel (DoP) has issued a series of official circulars that redefine the authority responsible for approving such leave requests for both permanent and temporary staff members.
Under the newly implemented guidelines, Heads of Departments (HoDs) are now empowered to approve Sabbatical Leave applications for employees in Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’, encompassing all temporary staff within their respective departments. This directive is clearly stated in Circular No. 449/GEN/DOP, dated April 7, 2025. For employees falling under Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’, the authority to grant Sabbatical Leave now rests with the Secretary of the Department of Personnel, as detailed in Notification Nos. 40/GEN/DOP and 41/GEN/DOP, both also issued on April 7, 2025.
The recent circular explicitly mandates that all designated approving authorities must strictly adhere to the established terms and conditions outlined in Annexure I of the original notifications concerning Sabbatical Leave. These foundational documents, bearing reference numbers F(106)105/GEN/DOP for regular employees and F(106)106/GEN/DOP for temporary employees, were initially issued on August 14, 2023, and contain crucial details regarding eligibility criteria, the required application process, and the protocols for approval.
A noteworthy inclusion in the revised guidelines is the extension of Sabbatical Leave eligibility to temporary employees who have completed a minimum of six months of continuous service. However, the DoP has instructed HoDs to exercise due diligence in assessing the remaining service period of such temporary employees before granting leave, ensuring strict compliance with Clause 5 of the terms and conditions stipulated in the August 2023 notification specifically for temporary staff.
Furthermore, the government has clarified the status of employees who were initially temporary but subsequently regularised under Notification No. 100/GEN/DOP dated February 6, 2022, in conjunction with Notification No. 24/GEN/DOP dated February 9, 2024. These individuals will now be treated as regular employees for the purpose of Sabbatical Leave and will therefore be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to regular staff, as detailed in Notification No. F(106)105/GEN/DOP.
In a final directive, the Department of Personnel has emphasized the importance of timely submission of Sabbatical Leave applications by all employees. It has been made unequivocally clear that no employee will be permitted to proceed on Sabbatical Leave without obtaining prior written approval and a formal Office Order issued by the relevant approving authority.
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