WB Govt Order: Will Taking Leave on Strike Day Cost Your Job? West Bengal Govt’s New Directive

WB Govt Order: In response to a nationwide strike scheduled for July 9, 2025, the Finance Department of the Government of West Bengal has issued a critical memorandum for all state government employees. On the day of this 24-hour strike called by various trade unions, all state government offices will remain open, and employee attendance is mandatory. This directive is not just a routine announcement; it signals strict measures for any unauthorized absence. Let’s break down the key points of this circular.

Main Directives:

• Offices to Remain Open: On the day of the strike, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, all state government offices, including those receiving grants-in-aid from the state, will remain open and fully functional. All employees are required to report for duty.
• All Leave Cancelled: No Casual Leave or any other type of leave, including for half the day, will be granted to any employee on that day.
• Dies Non: If an employee remains absent, that day will be treated as ‘dies-non’. This means they will not receive a salary for that day, and the day will not be counted as part of their service period.

Exemptions for Absence:

However, an absence will be considered valid under certain specific circumstances, provided that proper documentary evidence is submitted. These exceptions are:

• Hospitalization of the employee.
• Bereavement within the family.
• Severe illness that began and continued from before July 8, 2025.
• Pre-sanctioned Child Care Leave, Maternity Leave, Medical Leave, or Earned Leave that was approved before July 8, 2025.

Consequences of Absence:

Strict action will be taken against employees who are absent without a valid reason as listed above.

• Show-Cause Notice: The concerned head of the office will issue a show-cause notice to the absent employee, asking for an explanation for the unauthorized absence.
• Submission of Documents: Leave may be granted if a satisfactory reply and supporting documents are provided for the reasons mentioned above.
• Disciplinary Action: If an employee fails to respond to the show-cause notice or if the explanation is not found to be satisfactory, they will be liable for disciplinary action.

All departments have been instructed to complete this entire process by July 31, 2025, and submit a compliance report on the actions taken. This memorandum makes it clear that the state government is determined to maintain normal operations during the strike and has adopted a strict stance to ensure employee attendance. It is crucial for state government employees to comply with this directive to avoid any adverse impact on their salary and service record.