Paternity Leave (15 Days): Format, When to Apply, Common Mistakes

Paternity Leave under Rule 43-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules 1972 grants 15 days of full-pay leave to a male Government employee on the occurrence of birth or adoption of a child. The leave is restricted to the first two surviving children and must be availed within 6 months from the date of delivery. After 6 months, the leave lapses.

When to apply

The standard pattern is to apply for the leave starting from the EDD or the day after. Some employees prefer to take 7 days around the delivery and 8 days a month later for the discharge from hospital and immediate post-natal care; this is permissible since the rule allows the leave to be taken in spells within the 6-month window. The application should mention the intended split if a split is being requested.

The format

Subject: Application for Paternity Leave from [start date] to [end date]

Sir,

I request grant of Paternity Leave for [N] days from [start date] to [end date] (both days inclusive) under Rule 43-A of the CCS (Leave) Rules 1972. The expected date of delivery / actual date of birth is [date]. A medical certificate / birth certificate is enclosed.

This is the [first/second] occasion of Paternity Leave during my service.

During the period, I shall be available at [address] and on mobile [number].

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, Name, Date]

Enclosure: Medical certificate / birth certificate.

Common mistakes

• Applying after 6 months. The leave lapses; it cannot be revived.
• Combining with Casual Leave. Paternity Leave is independent and should not be mixed with CL. Adjacent holidays can be prefixed/suffixed without consuming the 15 days.
• Applying for a third child. The rule restricts to the first two surviving children. There is no relaxation.
• Forgetting the birth certificate. If the application is filed after the birth, the birth certificate (or hospital discharge summary showing the date) is the supporting document. The medical certificate alone is for the EDD-based application before delivery.

Detailed treatment of paternity leave on adoption (the parallel provision under DoPT OMs), surrogacy paternity (post-2024 amendment), and paternity leave during deputation will follow in a forthcoming update.