When joining time is granted -Joining time may be granted to a Government servant to enable him-
- to join a new post either at the same or a new station on transfer in public interest;
- to join a new post in a new station on return from vacation, or leave of any kind and any duration except casual leave;
- to proceed on transfer or on the expiry of leave from a specified station to join a post in a remote locality which is not easy of access;
(i) to proceed on relinquishing charge of a post, on transfer or leave, in a place in a remote locality which is not easy of access to a specified station;
(ii) to proceed on leave from a specified station to a place in a remote locality which is not easy of access, and return therefrom on the expiry of the leave;
- (i) to proceed by sea, on transfer from one island to another island; or
(ii) to proceed by sea, on leave to his home town in one island after relinquishing charge of his post in another island or from his home town in one island for joining a post in another island on the expiry of his leave, in case he is domiciled in the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or the Union Territory of the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, as the case may be, and is locally recruited for service within the respective Union Territory.
EXPLANATION:- For the purpose of this clause, the expression “island means an island within the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or an Island within the Union Territory of the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, as the case may be.
Important Points
When transferred to other Government / Organization having separate rules for JT. – When a Government servant to whom these rules apply is transferred to the control of another Government or organization, which has made separate rules prescribing amount of joining time, his joining time for the journey to join his post under that Government/ organization and for the return journey, will be governed by those rules, unless different provisions are expressly made in the terms of deputation / foreign service by mutual agreement between the lending and borrowing authorities.
Railway / Armed Forces / State Government employees appointed to Civil Services.- The joining time of Railway employees, Armed Forces Personnel and those paid from Defence Services Estimates and the employees of State Government or any other organization, who are appointed to Civil Services and posts under the Central Government on deputation or on foreign service basis, shall, for joining the Civil Services and posts under the Central Government and for the return journeys, be regulated in accordance with these rules, unless different provisions are expressly made in their respective terms of deputation/ foreign service, by mutual agreement between the lending and borrowing authorities.
Surplus staff transferred from one post to another.–The surplus staff transferred from one post to another under the Scheme Regulating Redeployment of Surplus Staff shall be eligible for joining time.
Discharged and reappointed Government servants.- Government servants who are discharged due to reduction of establishment from one Central Government Office and reappointed to another Central Government Office shall be entitled to joining time, if the orders of appointment to the new post a received by them while working in the old post. If they are appointed to the new post after being discharged from the old post, the period of break may be converted into joining time without pay by the Head of Department, provided that break does not exceed 30 days and the Government servant has rendered less than 3 years’ continuous service on the date of his discharge.
Appointments on the basis of competitive examination and/or interview.- For appointment to posts under the Central Government o on the result of a competitive examination and/or interview open to Government servants and others-
Joining time is admissible. – For appointment to posts under the Central Government on the results of a competitive examination or interview or both open to Government servants and others, the Central Government employees and permanent or provisionally permanent State Government employees, if such Government servants opt for having their past service in the Central Government or State Government counted for all purposes in the Central Government.
Travelling Allowance under SR 114 is also admissible to the employees to whom joining time pay is granted.
Reckoning of joining time. The joining time shall commence from the date of relinquishment of charge of the old post if the charge is made over in the forenoon or the following date if the charge is made over in the afternoon.
Joining time to be calculated from old Headquarters. The joining time shall be calculated from old headquarters in all cases including where a government servant receives his transfer orders or makes over charge of the old Government servant receives post in a place other than his old headquarters, or where the headquarters of Government servant while on tour is changed to the tour station itself or where his temporary transfer is converted into permanent transfer.
Amount of joining time. (1) One day’s joining time shall be allowed to a Government servant to join a new post within the same station or which does not involve a change of residence from one station to another. For this purpose, the term same station’ will be interpreted to mean the area falling within the jurisdiction of the municipality or corporation including such of suburban municipalities, notified areas or cantonments as are contiguous to the named municipality, etc.
(2) in cases involving transfer from one station to another and also involving change of residence, the Government servant shall be allowed joining time with reference to the distance between the old headquarters and the new headquarters by direct route and ordinary mode(s) of travel as indicated in the following schedule:-
| Distance between the old headquarters and the new headquarters | Joining time admissible | Joining time admissible where the transfer necessarily involves continuous travel by road for more than 200 km |
| 1000 km or less | 10 days | 12 days |
| More than 1000 km | 12 days | 15 days |
| More than 2000 km | 15 days except in cases of travel by air for which the maximum will be 12 days | 15 days |
Actual distance only to be reckoned and not weighted distance,–
1. Distance means actual distance travelled and not weighted mileage for which fare is charged by the Railways in certain ghat or hill regions.
2. In case of transfer of a Government servant to or from North-Easten Region, including Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Ladakh, two days additional time shall be admissible over and above the normal joining time reckoned on the basis of actual distance between their old and new place of posting.
When holiday(s) follow(s) joining time– When holiday(s) follow(s) joining time, the normal joining time may be deemed to have been extended to cover such holiday(s).
How joining time is treated– 1. Joining time is treated as duty. In case of transfer at request, it is treated as dies non or if the Government servant opts, it will be treated as leave admissible at the discretion of the Competent Authority. If. however, the official is relieved on the eve of holiday(s) and reports for duty at the transferred station on the forenoon after the holiday(s), he may be deemed to have availed the holiday(s) and he need not apply for any leave for that period. Pay for this period of holiday(s) availed will be borne by the Department where he joins after the transfer.
2. In the case of a transfer from one officiating appointment to another, the period of joining time should be treated as duty in the post, the pay of which he draws during the period and will count for increment in the same post under FR 26 (a). If, however, the rate of pay admissible in both the posts happens to be the same, the period of joining time should be treated as duty in the lower of the two posts and will count for increment in that lower post under FR 26 (c).
Extension of joining time— Extension of joining time beyond the limits can be granted up to the maximum limit of 30 days by the Head of Department and beyond 30 days by the Department of the Government of India, the guiding principle being that the total period of joining time should be approximately equal to 8 days for preparation plus reasonable transit time plus holidays, if any, following the extended joining time. While computing the transit time, allowance could be made for the time unavoidably spent due to disruption of transport arrangements caused by strike or natural calamities, or the period spent awaiting the departure of the steamer.
Unveiled portion of joining time to be credited to the official’s leave accounts as earned leave.– In cases of transfer from one station to another involving change of residence, if a Government servant-
- is ordered to join the new post at a new place of posting without availing of full joining time, or
- proceeds alone to the new place of posting and joins the post without availing of full joining time and takes his family later within the permissible limit for claiming transfer T.A. for the family,
the number of days of joining time, as admissible in sub-rule (4) of Rule 5 subject to the maximum of 15 days reduced by the number of days actually availed of shall be credited to his leave account as earned leave, provided that the earned leave at his credit together with the unavailed joining time allowed to be so credited shall not exceed 300 days as per Rule 26 (1) (a) () of CCS (Leave) Rules. However, this concession is not admissible in the case of local transfer.
Combination of joining time with vacation / regular leave.- Joining time may be combined with vacation and/or regular leave of any kind or duration except casual leave.
Transfer while in transit.-If a Government servant in transit on transfer is directed to proceed to a place different from that indicated in the initial transfer orders, he shall be entitled to joining time already availed of up to the date of receipt of revised orders plus fresh spell of full joining time from the date following the date of receipt of the revised orders. The fresh spell of joining time in such cases shall be calculated from the place at which he received revised orders as if he is transferred from that place.
CL not to be combined with joining time.- Casual leave should not be combined with joining time.
No joining time for Temporary Transfers.-No joining time is admissible in cases of temporary transfer for a period not exceeding 180 days. Only the actual transit time as admissible in the case of journeys on tour, may be allowed.
Period of taking over charge is included in joining time.– The period of inspection while taking over charge of a new post by relieving officer in cases where the charge transferred consists of several stores and/or scattered works which the relieving and the relieved officers are required to inspect together before the transfer of charge is completed should be treated as duty if the period spent in carrying out these inspections is not considered excessive by the Head of the Department.
Lien during joining time.– During joining time, a Government servant holding a permanent post substantively, retains a lien on that post. If, however, he is transferred substantively to a post on lower pay, his lien is transferred to the new post from the date on which he is relieved of his duties in the old post.
Reckoning of joining time for increment–
(a) Joining time for transfer one’s own request is treated as dies non and does not count for increment, leave or pension.
(b) Joining time will count for increment in the substantive post an the post the pay of which is paid during transit.
(c) If joining time is in continuation of leave, it counts for increments in the time-scale applicable to the post /posts on which the last day of leave before the commencement of the joining time counts for increments.
EXPLANATION.- Joining time will count for increment in the permanent post because he holds a lien on that post. In the case of temporary /officiating service, all leave, other than EOL without MC, counts for increments, provided the certificate of continued officiation is given. It follows that joining time continuation of such leave counts for increments in the officiating post, if certificate of continued officiation is given.
Overstayad of joining time.- A Government servant who overstays his joining time, is entitled to no pay or leave salary after the end of the joining time and such a period will be treated as non-duty and will, therefore, postpone the increment. The period of overstayal will not be counted as service for purposes of calculation of Half-pay Leave. Wilful absence from duty after the expiry of joining time may be treated as misbehaviour for the purpose of FR 15. Such period does not count as qualifying service for pension.
NOTE.- The Competent Authority may regularize the period of overstayal by the grant of extraordinary leave.
Pay during joining time.-
(a) If on joining time to join a new post in the same station or a new station, the official will be entitled to pay equal to the pay which was drawn before relinquishing charge in the old post. Officials joining a new post in the same station or new station on expiry of leave (of any kind and any duration, except casual leave) will also be entitled to joining time pay equal to pay drawn before relinquishing charge of the old post. Appropriate Dearness Allowance will be admissible. Compensatory Allowances and House Rent Allowance, will be admissible as applicable to the old station from which he was transferred.
Conveyance Allowance/Permanent Travelling Allowance are not admissible during joining time.
Note 1.- The sanction of the admissible joining time shall l be accorded by the competent authority exercising the administrative control over the Government servant proceeding on transfer.
Note 2.-The joining time pay shall be paid for by the new administrative authority where such Government servant joins on transfer.
“Pay” includes special pay, if any.
(b) In the case of joining time or leave granted to a non-Government servant to perform journey on appointment under Government or on reversion therefrom, the person will be paid pay or leave salary payable by the private employer or by Government, whichever is less.
(c) Joining time pay shall be granted to permanent /temporary employees permanent / provisionally permanent State Government employees appointment on the results of a competitive examination /interview open to Government servants and others, if such Government servants opt for having their past service in the Central Government or State Government counted for all purposes in the Central Government.
(d) Work-charged staff on transfer in public interest may be granted joining time and joining time pay as admissible to regular Government servants.
(e) The period of taking over charge of a new post by a relieving officer should be treated as duty if the period spent in carrying out inspection is not considered excessive by the Head of the Department. While so taking over, relieving officer will draw-
(i) (a) if he is transferred from a post which he held substantively or on return from leave while working in such post his pre-sumptive pay in that post, or
(b) if he is transferred from a post which he held in an officiating capacity or on return from leave while working in such post -the officiating pay admissible in that post or the pay he would draw after the transfer is complete, whichever is less.
(ii) HRA as admissible at the new station on the basis of the pay drawn at (a) or (b) above, as the case may be.
Route by which joining time calculated.– Joining time shall be calculated with reference to the distance between the old headquarters and new headquarters by direct route and ordinary mode(s) of travelling.
Time and place from which joining time is calculated.- The joining time shall be calculated from the old headquarters in all cases.
Transfer while on leave.- If a Government servant is transferred to a new post while on leave, his joining time will be calculated from the old headquarters to the new headguarters, since joining time can be combined with leave of any kind and any duration.
Provisions relating to Joining Time and Joining Time Pay for Government servant on Technical Resignation.- For appointment to posts under the Central Government on results of a competition and/or interview open to Government servants and others, Central Government employees and permanent / provisionally permanent State Government employees will be entitled to joining time under the CCS (Joining Time) Rules, 1979. Joining time will be included as qualifying service in the new job.
A Government servant on joining time shall be regarded as on duty during that period and shall be entitled to be paid joining time pay equal to the pay which was drawn before relinquishment of charge in the old post. He will also be entitled to Dearness Allowance, if any, appropriate to the joining time pay. In addition, he can also draw compensatory allowances like House Rent Allowance as applicable to the old station from which he was transferred. He shall not be allowed Conveyance Allowance or permanent Travelling Allowance.
JOINING TIME FOR REMOTE PLACES
Joining time for places and stations declared to be not easy of access, which were originally governed by SR 294-A, are now governed by the following administrative instructions:-
- A Government servant proceeding on leave from/to a place in the remote locality mentioned in Column 1 of the Annexure to GIO below Appx. 10, returning from leave to/from the said place shall be entitled once in a calendar year to transit time each way to cover the period spent in journey between the said remote locality and the specified station at the scale prescribed in Column3 of that Annexure.
- The concession is also admissible, while on leave, to a Government servant-
(a) who is domiciled in any part of India other than the remote locality concerned and has been specifically recruited from outside for service in remote locality; and
(b) who, though not specially recruited outside the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands or the Union Territory of the Lakshadweep, as the case may be, for service in the respective Union Territory, is domiciled in any part of India other than the Union Territory concerned.
(3) A Government servant domiciled in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands or the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and proceeding on leave to his home town in another island on the Union Territory concerned, Shall be entitled, once in a calendar year, to transit time to cover the period spent journey by sea to the island in which his home town is located and vice versa while returning from leave. The transit time thus admissible shall be the actual number of days taken in the journey by sea subject to a maximum of seven days for each journey.
(4) Where the outward journey falls in one calendar year and the return journey in the succeeding calendar year, the concession shall be counted falls in against the calendar year in which the leave commences. In calculating transit holidays falling before or at the end of it shall be excluded while those falling during transit time shall be included.
(5) A Government servant domiciled in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar lslands or the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and recruited for in the respective territory, when posted for service on mainland in public interest shall be entitled to joining time, once a year, while proceeding to and returning from the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep on leave.
(6) A Government servant, domiciled in any part of India other than Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands or the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and recruited whether within or outside that Union Territory for service there, while proceeding on leave from his post in one island in that Union Territory to his home town on the mainland to join his post in another Island in that Union Territory, shall be entitled to joining time on the same scale as provided in Para. l above.
(7) When a Central Government servant posted in the remote areas spends his leave outside the Union Territory, the journey time from the place in the area to the specified station indicated in the annexure and vice versa will be treated as free joining time if admissible under this Office Memorandum and in addition the remaining journey time, if any, in excess of 2 days could be allowed as free joining time, as applicable to N-É Region, under the provisions of Finance Ministry, O.M. No. 20014/3/83-E. IV, dated the 14th December, 1983.
JOINING TIME FOR TRANSFER AT OWN REQUEST
No joining time is admissible for transfer at own request. The period between handing over charge at the old station and taking charge at the new station, may be treated as leave admissible at the request of the official. If not, it is to be treated as dies non, in which case the period will not count for increment, leave or pension.
If the official is relieved on the eve of holiday(s) and reports for duty at the transferred station on the forenoon after the holiday(s), the holiday(s) may be deemed to have been availed of and the official need not apply for any leave for the period of holiday(s). The pay for the period of holiday(s) will be borne by the Department where the official reports for duty after the transfer.
