Railway Leave Rules: Leave on Average Pay (LAP) and Its Calculation

Leave on Average Pay, commonly referred to as LAP, is a type of leave granted to railway employees based on their service. Understanding the rules and calculation methods for LAP is crucial for railway staff to effectively manage their leave and ensure they receive appropriate benefits. This blog post will provide an overview of LAP, the rules governing it, and how it is calculated.

Leave on Average Pay (IREC – 523)

1. Entitlement and Credit:

   •  Railway servants (permanent or temporary) are entitled to 30 days of Leave on Average Pay (LAP) per calendar year.
   • LAP is credited in advance in two installments of 15 days each, on January 1st and July 1st of each calendar year.

2.  Carry Forward and Limits:

   • LAP can be carried forward to the next half-year, provided the total (including the new credit) does not exceed a maximum of 300 days.
   •  Periods of foreign service count towards LAP if contributions towards leave salary are paid.

3. Special Procedures for Credit Adjustment:

   •  If a railway servant has 285 days or less of LAP at the start of a half-year, 15 days LAP is credited as usual.
   •  If LAP at the start is between 285 and 300 days, 15 days of LAP is credited but adjusted against any taken during the half-year. Excess LAP taken beyond 15 days will be debited from the account.

4. Maximum Leave Grant:

   • The maximum LAP that can be granted at a time is 180 days.

Calculation of Leave on Average Pay (IREC – 524)

1.  Credit Accumulation:

   •  LAP is credited at 2¹/₂ days per completed calendar month of service for each half-year in which the railway servant is expected to render service.

2.  Provisions for Retirement, Resignation, Removal, or Death:

   •  If a railway servant retires or resigns, LAP is credited at 2¹/₂ days per completed calendar month up to the date of retirement or resignation.
   • If a railway servant is removed, dismissed, or dies, LAP is credited at the same rate up to the end of the calendar month preceding the month of removal, dismissal, or death.

3. Adjustments for Extraordinary Leave or Absences:

   • If a railway servant has taken extraordinary leave or had periods treated as “dies non” during the previous half-year, the credit for the next half-year is reduced by 1/10th of such leave or absences, up to a maximum of 15 days.

4. Rounding Off:

   • When calculating LAP, fractions of a day are rounded to the nearest whole day.

Additional Provisions for North-East Frontier Railway Staff

1. Additional Leave Concession:
   • 2 days additional LAP for staff headquartered at Sigurd station or west of Siliguri.
   • 4 days additional LAP for staff at stations east of Siliguri but on the North Bank of Brahmaputra, including Darjeeling-Himalaya Section and Pandu (Guwahati).
   • 6 days additional LAP for staff headquartered at stations east of Pandu.

Authority References:

• Railway Board’s Letters: E(P&A)I-2000/CPC/LE-3 dated 1.8.2000, E(P&A)I-2000/CPC/ALE-5 dated 7.2.97.
• Railway Ministry’s Letter: E(G)58AD-I dated 15.2.1958

Read Also

• Special Casual Leave (SCL) for Blood Donation and Apheresis Donation – Updated Guidelines for Government Employees
• Paternity Leave Rules For Male Railway Employees 
• Child Adoption Leave and Paternity Leave for Railway Employees
• Joining Time for Railway Employees: Consolidated Circular (Master Circular No. 6)
• Railway Leave Combination & Railway Leave Chart
• Important Update: Re-engagement of Retired Staff in Railways on Contractual Basis
• Unlocking Additional Pension Benefits for Retired Central Government Employees
• 🚂 Leave Policies for Railway Probationers and Apprentices
• 🚂 Study Leave Guidelines for Railway Servants
• Grant of Notional Higher Pay Level to Running Staff: Railway Board RBE No. 98/2024