PESHAWAR: The health department has warned its employees against availing unauthorised leave and asked them follow proper procedure or face disciplinary action.

A letter sent by health secretary to director-general health services, medical superintendents and district health officers on Thursday said that it had come into his notice that employees of the department were going on leave without waiting for approval of their applications. `It is in violation of rules,` it added.

The letter said that in many cases, when action was initiated against the employees, they argued that they moved applications for leave. It said that it was illegal to presume that leave was granted when application was submitted.

`The employees should follow proper procedure to be able to avail leave` said the letter. Citing verdicts of Supreme Court of Pakistan and KP Services Tribunal, it said that employees should wait for approval of leave after submitting applications.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan decided on April 22, 2009 in `Ziaur Rehman versus divisional superintendent postal services, Abbottabad case` that mere submission of application for leave by an employee to the department would not meanthatleavewasgranted in his favour but the applicant was duty bound to inquire from the department himself about the fate of his request for grant of leave.

Likewise, KP Service Tribunal in a judgment given in September 2017 said that the appellant did not bother to contact hisdepartment himself or through his agent to know as to whether the leave was sanctioned or not. In both the cases, the appeals against penalty of removal from service were dismissed, it said.

The letter said that none of the employees would leave place of duty after submission of leave application till grant of approval in writing through notification was received by the employee concerned.

`Otherwise, disciplinary action will be taken,` it said.

The letter said that with every application, the leave account of the employee should invariably be attached and incomplete applications should be returned. While deciding all applications, the previous leave record of the employee must be seen to determine if the applicant has availed more leave than entitled and is habitual leave-takers, especially exPakistan leave.

`It is meant to discourage those professionals, who get jobs abroad without permission or information and then apply repeatedly for leave,` said the letter.

It said that all decisions on applications must be made within 10 days. If rejected, reasons in writing must be communicated to applicants, it said.

Employees should clearly mention reasons and service and leave history with recommendations whether leave is being recommended or not.

The application should reach the director general or secretary office within seven working days. It should carry name, personnel number and CNIC number of employee, grade, post, duration and type of leave, date of appointment, length of service, reasons for leave and leave record.