Understanding “Dies Non” in Government Service

In government service, terms like leave, extraordinary leave, or earned leave are familiar to most employees. But one phrase that often creates confusion is “Dies Non”. It’s a Latin expression meaning “no day” or “not counted as a day.” In simple terms, dies non is a period that is not recognized as duty, leave, or service for any purpose.

What is Dies Non?

• Dies non literally means “day not counted.”
• When a government servant is absent without proper authorization, or is involved in misconduct such as participating in a strike, the authority may declare those days as dies non.
• These days do not count towards salary, leave, or pension benefits.

👉 In other words: You were not on duty, it was not approved leave, and it will not count as service.

Effects of Dies Non

Declaring a period as dies non has several consequences:

1. No Salary
   • The employee does not receive any pay or allowances for that day (or days).
2. No Leave Benefits
   • The period is not treated as leave (earned leave, half pay leave, or otherwise).
   • It cannot be regularized later as leave.
3. Not Counted as Service
   • The day(s) will not be added to qualifying service for increments, leave calculation, or pension.
4. Impact on Earned Leave Credit and Half Pay Leave
   • As per Rule 27(3), if an employee has a period of dies non in a half-year, their next earned leave credit is reduced by 1/10th of the dies non period, subject to a maximum of 15 days.
   • If an employee has a dies non period (unauthorised absence or suspension not treated as duty), then the HPL for the next half-year is reduced.

Formula: 1/18 of the dies non period, subject to a maximum of 10 days deduction.

Example:
If dies non = 36 days in Jan–June, then deduction in July = 36 ÷ 18 = 2 days.
So instead of 10 days credit, only 8 days will be credited in July.

Illustrative Examples on Earned Leave

Example 1: Unauthorized Absence

An employee skips work for 5 days without sanctioned leave. The authority declares it dies non.

• Impact: No pay for 5 days, the period not counted as leave, and in the next half-year, earned leave credit will be reduced by ½ day (1/10th of 5).

Example 2: Strike Participation

A group of employees participate in a one-day strike. That day is declared as dies non.

• Impact: No salary for that day, not counted as leave or service, and it slightly reduces leave credit later.

Example 3: 60 Days Extraordinary Leave + 30 Days Dies Non

Suppose an employee takes 60 days extraordinary leave in a half-year, plus 30 days are declared dies non.

• Impact: Total 90 days. Next half-year’s earned leave credit is reduced by 1/10th of 90 = 9 days.

Difference Between Extraordinary Leave and Dies Non

Why is Dies Non Important?

• It serves as a disciplinary tool, discouraging unauthorized absence and strikes.
• Ensures that only actual duty or sanctioned leave is counted as service.
• Protects public service discipline by making employees accountable.

Key Takeaways

• Dies non = “Day not counted.”
• No salary, no leave, no service benefits for that period.
• Declared in cases of unauthorized absence or misconduct.
• Reduces earned leave credit by 1/10th in the following half-year.
• Different from Extraordinary Leave, which is sanctioned but unpaid.