University may allow child care leave to male employees

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 16

Panjab University (PU) is all set to allow the child care leave (CCL) to male employees.

If the Syndicate is in its favour on September 23, it will be a monumental decision as CCL is otherwise given to women employees only.

A panel was constituted, comprising Dean of University Instructions (DUI) Prof Shankarji Jha, Dr Meenu Gupta, Dr Ajay Ranga and Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) president Prof Rajesh Gill, for forming rules in this regard. Besides, women employees, it allowed male employees to take the CCL for first two living children below 18 years, for a maximum period of 2 years (730 days) during their entire service.

The Central Government allows the CCL for only single male parent. The Punjab Government doesn’t allow it for males and permit the CCL for only one year.

“Taking care of children is not just the duty of women employees but men also. That is why, we want to allow the CCL for both,” said Gill.

The PU panel, in its meeting on July 17, clarified that an affidavit has to be submitted by the CCL applicant that his or her spouse will not availing of the leave during the period for which the he or she has applied for the CCL.

For the CCL, sanctioning authority in case of teachers is DUI, Vice Chancellor in case of non-teaching employees in Class A cadre and Registrar in the case of Class B and Class C non-teaching employees.

However, if a teacher takes the CCL for more than 45 days, the PU could appoint a guest faculty if required. The leave can be taken in more than one spell, but not more than three spells in one calendar year.