SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has declared 291 days of unauthorised absence of Dr Tawhida Fazili, Lecturer in Microbiology at Government Dental College, Srinagar, as ‘Dies Non’, ruling that the period will not count towards duty, salary, increments, leave or pensionary benefits under the applicable service rules.
The decision has been taken by the Health and Medical Education Department through Government Order No. 772-JK (HME) of 2026, issued following proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, in O.A. No. 409/2024, titled Dr Tawhida Fazili versus UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Others.
Dr Fazili had submitted a notice on March 5, 2015, seeking voluntary retirement from government service with effect from April 1, 2015, under Article 230(i) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, Volume-I. However, her request was not accepted at the time, as the prescribed qualifying service was not found to have been established.
The matter was subsequently taken to the CAT, which directed the government to examine her claim under the applicable rules and issue a reasoned and speaking order.
During scrutiny of her service records, the department found that Dr Fazili had remained absent from duty without authorisation for an aggregate period of 291 days. The period had not previously been regularised through any order issued by the competent authority.
After examining the matter in consultation with the Accounts Section, the government decided to treat the entire period as ‘Dies Non’, a service classification under which the period does not count as duty and does not ordinarily qualify for pay, allowances, leave, increments or pensionary benefits, subject to the applicable regulations.
The order further clarifies that the decision does not, by itself, confer any entitlement to voluntary retirement, pension, retiral benefits or other consequential service benefits.
Importantly, the government has kept the question of Dr Fazili’s eligibility for voluntary retirement under Article 230(i) open for separate examination. Her admissible qualifying service and any consequential benefits will be determined independently on the basis of her regulated service record and the applicable rules.
