CAT order on commuted leave

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Ernakulam, has held that commuted leave on the basis of medical certificate cannot be denied to a Central government employee who is about to retire. The sanctioning authority cannot refuse leave at its whims and fancies. The tribunal made the observation recently while allowing an application filed by Elsy John, retired supervisor at the Accountant General’s Office. The tribunal directed the Union government and the Accountant General to regularise the applicant’s leave for 43 days as commuted leave and disburse the withheld amount for the days with an annual interest of 9 per cent from June 1, 2008 till the day of payment within 15 days.