The Odisha government has made it mandatory for officials to seek prior permission before leaving headquarters, with a new directive requiring 21 days’ advance notice for personal travel outside the state or country.
The Finance Department clarified that sanction of leave—other than casual leave—must be obtained from the competent authority before proceeding. Officials must also secure permission to leave headquarters in advance. Exceptions will only be considered in emergencies.
The order comes after repeated instances of officers proceeding without prior sanction or applying at the last moment, creating administrative hurdles. The directive has been circulated to key offices including the Odisha Sales Tax Tribunal, CT & GST Commissioner, MDRAFM Director, Controller of Accounts, Director of Local Fund Audit, and Director of Treasuries & Inspection.
Heads of departments have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the new guidelines. The move is aimed at streamlining leave approvals and maintaining accountability across directorates and subordinate offices.
