"Organ removal from a donor is a major surgery, which requires time for recovery, including both hospitalisation and post hospitalisation periods," an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

Further, keeping in view the noble activity to help another human being and to promote organ donation among the central government employees, it has now been decided to grant a maximum of 42 days special casual leave to a central government servant for donating their organ(s) to another human being, as a special welfare measure in public interest, it said.

Irrespective of the type of surgery for removal of donor's organ, the duration of special casual leave will be a maximum of 42 days according to the recommendation of government registered medical practitioner/doctor, the order said.

The leave shall be granted to all types of living donors provided that donor had been duly approved for donation by the government registered medical practitioner in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, it said.

The Personnel Ministry said it has been considering grant of special casual leave to organ donors in the light of several references/queries received, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The special casual leave shall not be combined with any other leave except in exceptional circumstances of complications of surgery on medical recommendation by the government registered medical practitioner/doctor, said the order issued to all central government departments/ministries.

Special casual leave shall normally be taken in one stretch starting from the day of admission in the hospital. However, in case of requirement, it can be availed starting maximum one week prior to surgery on the recommendation of government registered medical practitioner/doctor, it said. Flexibility or splitting of leaves may be permitted on the recommendation of treating government registered medical practitioner/doctor, the order said.

"Treatment in connection with organ donation shall as far as possible be done from any authorised hospital. In a case where no authorised hospital (government hospital or private hospital empanelled under Central Government Health Scheme or CGHS) is available in the area/ zone of treatment and the treatment is done from a private hospital, production of medical certificate duly certified by concerned HOD of the hospital is mandatory," it said.