Special Casual Leave for Central Government Employees: Complete List, Rules & DoPT Orders
Organ donation (42 days), blood donation, disability concessions, sports, St. John Ambulance duties and family welfare — eligibility, conditions and OM references in one place. Updated: 10 November 2026.
Special Casual Leave (SCL) is a special leave facility for eligible Central Government employees for certain specified purposes, such as blood donation, organ donation, participation in sports activities and disability-related requirements.
Unlike Earned Leave (EL) and Half Pay Leave (HPL), SCL is governed by specific Government of India instructions issued from time to time. It is generally granted in addition to the normal leave entitlement and is not deducted from the regular leave account. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued several Office Memorandums (OMs) explaining when SCL can be granted.
1. What is Special Casual Leave?
SCL is a special concession granted for specific activities or circumstances recognised by the Government. It differs from ordinary Casual Leave because it is available only for purposes covered by applicable Government instructions.
- Generally not deducted from Earned Leave or the normal Casual Leave account.
- Can be granted only for an authorised purpose.
- The employee must satisfy the eligibility conditions in the relevant Office Memorandum.
- Approval of the competent leave-sanctioning authority is required.
- Conditions may differ from one SCL category to another.
2. List of Important Special Casual Leave Provisions
| S.No. | Purpose | Leave Entitlement / Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organ donation (living donor) | Maximum 42 days |
| 2 | Whole blood donation | 1 day, on the day of donation |
| 3 | Apheresis donation (platelets, plasma, red cells etc.) | Up to 4 times in a year |
| 4 | Disability-related specific requirements | 4 days per calendar year |
| 5 | Disability-related conferences, seminars, training, workshops | Up to 10 days per calendar year |
| 6 | National / international sporting events | Subject to applicable sports instructions |
| 7 | Recognised sporting tournaments and competitions | Subject to prescribed conditions |
| 8 | St. John Ambulance Brigade duties | Up to 3 days per annum, subject to conditions |
| 9 | Family Welfare Scheme-related activities | As prescribed in the applicable instructions |
3. SCL for Organ Donation – 42 Days
Central Government employees can avail up to 42 days of Special Casual Leave for donating an organ to another human being. The provision recognises that organ donation involves major surgery, hospitalisation and a recovery period.
Important conditions
- A maximum of 42 days of SCL may be granted.
- Available to eligible living organ donors.
- The donation must be duly approved by the competent medical authority under the applicable organ transplantation law.
- The duration is decided on the recommendation of a Government-registered medical practitioner.
- Leave should normally be taken in one continuous spell starting from the date of hospital admission.
- It may be availed up to one week before surgery on medical recommendation.
- Splitting or flexibility in the period may be permitted on the treating doctor's recommendation.
- Ordinarily not to be combined with other leave, except in exceptional circumstances involving surgical complications and medical recommendation.
Treatment should, as far as possible, be undertaken at an authorised hospital — a Government hospital or a private hospital empanelled under CGHS.
DoPT OM No.: A-24011/23/2022-Estt.(Leave)
Date: 25 April 2023
Subject: Grant of Special Casual Leave to Organ Donors
This OM provides a maximum of 42 days SCL notwithstanding the general 30-day ceiling under the relevant provisions of Appendix III of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972.
4. SCL for Blood Donation & Apheresis
An employee who donates blood at a licensed blood bank on a working day is eligible for SCL for the day of donation, subject to the prescribed conditions. The facility has also been extended to apheresis donation, in which specific blood components are collected — platelets, plasma, red blood cells and other eligible components.
Important conditions
- Donation must be at a licensed blood bank.
- Donation must be on a working day.
- SCL is admissible for the day of donation only.
- Facility available up to a maximum of four times in a year.
- Valid proof of donation must be submitted.
DoPT OM No.: 13020/1/2017-Estt.(L)
Date: 28 December 2017
Subject: Grant of Special Casual Leave for the purpose of blood donation
The earlier instruction on blood donation was issued vide MHA OM No. 46/11/56-Estt.(A), dated 8 October 1956.
5. SCL for Employees with Disabilities
Two important provisions exist for Central Government employees with disabilities.
A. Four days of SCL per calendar year
Employees with disabilities may be granted four days of SCL in a calendar year for specific requirements relating to their disability. This was introduced following the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations and took effect from 1 September 2008.
DoPT OM No.: 25011/1/2008-Estt.(A)
Date: 19 November 2008
Subject: Sixth CPC recommendation – Special dispensation in the form of Special Casual Leave to Central Government employees with disabilities
B. Up to 10 days for disability-related programmes
A separate provision lets differently-abled employees avail SCL for conferences, seminars, training programmes and workshops relating to disability and development.
- Maximum 10 days in a calendar year.
- Programmes must relate to disability and development.
- Should be organised by eligible national or State-level agencies specified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Subject to administrative exigencies.
- Any period beyond 10 days is treated as regular leave of the kind due and admissible.
- May be combined with regular leave as a special case.
DoPT OM dated: 14 November 2007
Subject: Grant of Special Casual Leave to differently-abled Central Government employees
Power to grant this leave is vested in the Heads of Departments concerned.
6. SCL for Sports Activities
Employees participating in recognised sporting events and tournaments may be granted SCL under the applicable sports-related instructions. The admissible period depends on the nature of the event, the employee's participation, the recognition of the tournament and the applicable instructions.
- DoPT OM dated 29 February 2016 – Participation by Central Government servants in sporting events and tournaments of national or international importance.
- DoPT OM dated 4 December 2015 – Scheme for promotion of Adventure Sports and similar activities among Central Government employees.
7. SCL for St. John Ambulance Brigade Duties
Employees enrolled as members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade may be granted SCL while performing authorised duties during office hours on working days.
- Generally a maximum of three days in a calendar year.
- Where duty extends only to half a day, only half a day's SCL is allowed.
- A separate concession exists for members participating in the Republic Day Parade and connected rehearsals.
Reference: MHA OM No. 27/5/70-Estt.(B), dated 12 January 1971.
8. SCL for Family Welfare Activities
Government instructions provide SCL in connection with certain Family Welfare Schemes, subject to the conditions and duration prescribed in the relevant orders. See the modification issued through DoPT OM dated 4 January 2008 – Modification in the period of Special Casual Leave to Central Government servants for various Family Welfare Schemes.
9. Is SCL Deducted from the Normal Leave Account?
Generally, no. SCL is granted separately for the purposes specified in the relevant orders and is not ordinarily deducted from Earned Leave or Casual Leave balance.
However, rules on combining SCL with other leave differ by category. For example, the organ donation order restricts combination with other leave except in exceptional circumstances (surgical complications supported by medical recommendation). Do not assume every SCL category can be combined with EL, HPL or CL.
10. How to Apply for Special Casual Leave
Submit an application to the competent leave-sanctioning authority through the prescribed departmental channel. It should generally contain:
- Name and designation of the employee
- Employee ID or service number, wherever required
- Purpose for which SCL is requested
- Proposed date and duration
- Reference to the applicable DoPT or departmental OM
- Supporting documents, medical recommendations or participation certificates
Documents that may be required
| Purpose | Supporting Documents |
|---|---|
| Organ donation | Medical recommendation and hospital documents |
| Blood donation | Valid blood donation certificate |
| Apheresis donation | Certificate from licensed blood bank |
| Disability-related requirements | Relevant disability documentation, where required |
| Disability-related conferences | Invitation, programme details and participation proof |
| Sports participation | Selection/nomination letter and event details |
| St. John Ambulance duties | Authorisation or duty certificate |
| Family Welfare Scheme | Medical or procedural certificate, as applicable |
Confirm the exact documentation with your department's administration or establishment section.
11. Important DoPT / MHA OM Reference List
| S.No. | OM Reference | Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MHA OM No. 46/11/56-Estt.(A) | 08.10.1956 | SCL for blood donation |
| 2 | MHA OM No. 27/5/70-Estt.(B) | 12.01.1971 | St. John Ambulance Brigade duties |
| 3 | DoPT OM | 14.11.2007 | SCL for differently-abled employees – disability-related programmes |
| 4 | DoPT OM | 04.01.2008 | Modification of SCL for Family Welfare Schemes |
| 5 | DoPT OM No. 25011/1/2008-Estt.(A) | 19.11.2008 | Four days SCL for employees with disabilities |
| 6 | DoPT OM | 04.12.2015 | Adventure Sports scheme |
| 7 | DoPT OM | 29.02.2016 | Participation in national/international sporting events |
| 8 | DoPT OM No. 13020/1/2017-Estt.(L) | 28.12.2017 | Blood and apheresis donation |
| 9 | DoPT OM No. A-24011/23/2022-Estt.(Leave) | 25.04.2023 | Maximum 42 days SCL for organ donors |
Source documents for verification
- Organ Donation (42 days): DoPT OM dated 25 April 2023
- Blood Donation (four times a year for apheresis): DoPT OM dated 28 December 2017
- Disability SCL (four days): OM dated 19 November 2008
- Disability programmes (ten days): DoPT OM dated 14 November 2007
- Consolidated leave instructions: DoPT OM dated 8 April 2025
- Complete leave rules and orders: CCS Leave Rules – Orders and Instructions
12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Special Casual Leave available in addition to Earned Leave?
Can an employee get 42 days of Special Casual Leave?
How many times can an employee get SCL for blood donation?
Can an employee with a disability get additional Special Casual Leave?
Is Special Casual Leave applicable to Defence Civilian employees?
Is Special Casual Leave a right of an employee?
Conclusion
Special Casual Leave is an important welfare facility for Central Government employees, supporting organ donation, blood donation, sports participation, disability-related requirements and specified welfare programmes. Keep a copy of the applicable DoPT Office Memorandum while applying, and ask your administrative section to verify the latest instructions before sanctioning the leave.
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