JAMMU: Director, Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), has strongly refuted the news published in a local daily alleging that JKEDI denied earned leave to employees and has deducted salaries for extra leaves. "The report is misleading, factually incorrect and does not reflect the actual policies and procedures followed by the Institute", said the Director while clarifying on the issue through a rebuttal received here today.
The communication stated that it has come to the notice of the institute that the aforementioned news was shared without confirming the facts with the office of the Director JKEDI. Unfortunately, this has led to a misrepresentation of the facts, which has tarnished the reputation of the Director, the Institute and its employees.
Therefore, the JKEDI clarified that, as per the records available and in accordance with the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Leave) Rules 1979, specifically Rule 8 (i), leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right. The salary deductions were made under rules only in cases where employees took excess leave after exhausting their allotted quota of Casual, Special Casual or Sick Leaves without obtaining the necessary prior approval from the leave sanctioning authority.
Furthermore, it has been repeatedly communicated to all employees that prior approval for leaves is mandatory once the allotted quota of Casual/Special/Sick leave has been exhausted. This was explicitly outlined in Circular No. EDI/DIR/15/2024/544, dated 12.08.2024.
The JKEDI administration has categorically refuted the false and malicious allegations published in the newspaper "The Heaven Mail" on 23rd January 2025. These baseless claims have caused unnecessary concern among the employees and have been deliberately designed to tarnish reputation of the institute. The news is completely fabricated, misleading and without any factual basis, read the document.
The administration has taken the allegations seriously and will investigate the matter thoroughly. The culprits responsible for spreading such false narratives about the institute shall be identified and dealt with under rules.
JKEDI, as a government institution, strictly adheres to the leave rules and service conditions as prescribed under rules in vogue. Earned leave is a convenience granted to employees under established guidelines but like other types of leaves, mere applying doesn't mean approval or sanction as Leave applications are processed as per standard protocols, ensuring fairness and due consideration to the needs of both employees and the organization.
Regarding salary deductions, it is clarified that any deductions for extra leaves beyond the permissible limit are in accordance with the norms and financial regulations. Employees are well aware of these provisions, and there has been no deviation from established procedures.
In the rebuttal, Director said that it is unfortunate that the news in question presents a distorted narrative without seeking an official response from the administration. "Such baseless claims not only mislead the public but also harm the reputation of the Institute and its leadership", he said and urged the newspaper 'Heaven Mail' to verify facts before publishing such reports and provide a fair opportunity for clarification in the interest of journalistic ethics and responsible reporting.
