Teacher Leave Rules: Clarification on Absence During School Reopening or Closing Days

Government Clarification on Teacher Leave During School Reopening and Closing Days

Get official clarification on teacher leave rules in Andhra Pradesh for absence on school reopening or closing days. Learn how vacations and terminal holidays affect earned leave eligibility.

The Director of Public Instruction has issued an important clarification regarding teacher absence on reopening or closing days of schools and colleges. This guidance comes in response to recurring doubts and requests from principals of government institutions across Andhra Pradesh.

Let’s break down the official rules and clarifications in a clear and simplified manner.

🔍 Key Clarification: Combining Leave with Summer Vacation

According to the Andhra Pradesh Leave Rules, vacation may be combined with or taken in continuation of any type of leave except Casual Leave (as per Rule 12).

✅ If a teacher is present on the last working day and absent on the reopening day, or vice versa, earned leave may be sanctioned for the days of absence, provided it is properly prefixed or suffixed to the Summer Vacation.

> Example: If a teacher is absent for 2 days before school reopening, those 2 days can be covered using earned leave and combined with summer vacation (not with casual leave).

🚫 What About Terminal Holidays?

Here is where a lot of confusion arises. Let’s clarify:

Terminal holidays (i.e., holidays before or after a term break) that exceed 14 days may be treated like vacation and can be suffixed or prefixed to eligible leave such as Earned Leave or Half Pay Leave.

However, terminal holidays that do not exceed 15 days are not considered vacations under Rule 82 (2) of Fundamental Rules. Therefore, they cannot be prefixed or suffixed to any form of leave.

📌 Important Points for Principals

Principals and administrative heads are advised to note:

1. Local Holidays Are Not Gazetted Holidays – Therefore, they cannot be used to extend any form of leave.

2. Vacation Rules Apply Only to Summer and Long Breaks – Terminal holidays less than 15 days should be treated as short breaks, not vacations.

3. No Prefixing/Suffixing Terminal Holidays as Leave – If a staff member requests to combine leave with short terminal holidays (e.g., Christmas break, Dussehra), it is not permissible unless the total break is over 15 days and officially gazetted.

📋 Reference Rules

Rule 12 – Andhra Pradesh Leave Rules

Rule 82 (2) – Fundamental Rules

Clarifications issued by the Director of Public Instruction, Andhra Pradesh

✅ Final Takeaway

For teachers and principals, it is crucial to understand the clear distinction between:

Vacation (Summer or Long Breaks) – Can be combined with most types of leave (except CL).

Terminal Holidays (Below 15 Days) – Not considered vacation and cannot be added to leave.

By following these clarified rules, school and college staff can manage leave applications smoothly without confusion or policy violations.

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