The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an urgent directive suspending all forms of leave for its officers, citing an unspecified “impending situation.” In compliance with this directive, the AIIMS, Delhi, has immediately revoked all previously approved leaves for its officers.
According to ANI, the Ministry has ordered that no leave including station leave be granted, except for medical emergencies, until further notice. As per the official notice, no officer is permitted to take any kind of leave unless it is due to a medical condition. Officers already on leave have been instructed to return to duty without delay.
Though the Ministry has not disclosed the nature of the potential emergency, the urgency of the order indicates a heightened level of alertness within the healthcare system.
This move coincides with growing tensions along the India-Pakistan border, with reports of attacks on Jammu, Punjab, and parts of Rajasthan on May 8.
Following suit, the Delhi government also announced on May 8, 2025, that no government official would be granted leave, stressing the need for full preparedness of the emergency response system. “In light of the current situation and to ensure readiness for any emergencies, the Competent Authority has decided that no leave will be sanctioned for any officer or official until further orders,” the statement read.
Similarly, the West Bengal government has suspended all leaves for its employees. The Finance Department issued a notification on May 7, confirming that no state government employee would be allowed to take leave until further notice. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee affirmed this decision, emphasizing that the directive would remain in effect until the government issues updated instructions.