As informed earlier, the approval of the Sabbatical leave for BSNL Executives was one of the important agenda points of the BSNL Board Meeting held on 22/05/2026 and we are glad to inform that the finally Sabbatical Leave for BSNL Executives is approved by the BSNL Board.
After restoration of Deputation of BSNL Executives to other Government Departments /Institutions , PSUs, approval of Sabbatical leave was another issue related to career progression of the executives taken and successfully pursued by the SNEA.
SNEA congratulates all the executives in BSNL for having one more useful facility during SNEA as Majority Representative Association after approval of prominent facilities viz.
- The enhancement of Mobile handset amount,
- Approval of laptops for all executives including JTO/ JAO level,
- Lifting of ban on deputation of BSNL Executives and restoration of facility of deputation of executives to other PSUs/Govt Dept and so on.
With this approval of BSNL Board the inbuilt facility normally available to executives in PSUs , will be henceforth available to executives in BSNL, the PSU converted from Government Department.
Now, the minutes of BSNL Board meeting will be issued and then formal notification will be issued by the Estt Section and accordingly Sabbatical leave will be available to BSNL Executives and willing executives will be able to pursue their needs of higher education, skill development, additional educational qualifications or any other legally allowed activities by availing this Sabbatical leave.
This was an important agenda point discussed in the formal agenda meetings by SNEA as Recognised Majority Representative Association held on 04/12/2024 and was principally agreed by the BSNL Management and recorded in the minutes of the Meeting with directions to submit a brief note on HR issues. Copy<<<>> Minutes <<<>>
After discussions and agreement in the Formal agenda meeting as directions to submit details, SNEA has submitted justification for approval of the Sabbatical leave as available in PSUs including MTNL. Copy<<<>>
There after SNEA was continuously pursuing this issue with officers in Estt Section and after elaborate discussions finally with special initiatives and efforts of Shri. S.P. Singh, PGM Estt BSNL CO has given shape to the present draft proposal of Sabbatical leave for BSNL Executives. After initial formalities the proposed draft of Sabbatical leave was approved by CMD BSNL and then it was put before Management Committee (MC) of BSNL on 19/02/2026 and this full proof draft which was recommended by MC without changes for final approval of BSNL. NEWS<<<>>
We have raised this issue with CMD BSNL in the meeting held on 07/04/2026 and who has firmly assured approval of Sabbatical leave in the coming BSNL Board meeting. NEWS<<<>>
Since then this was the first BSNL Board meeting held on 22/05/2026 and finally Sabbatical Leave for BSNL Executives is approved by BSNL.
This will be great relief to the executives who are opting for Voluntary Retirement as are unable to balance family life and career progressions due to family issues including education of wards, taking care of self-health or health of parents or supporting parents in their critical illness during their lifetime and at the same time safeguarding their services in the BSNL.
Initially there was reluctance from the management stating that the office work will suffer and under fear that if mass executives avail sabbatical leave then it will be difficult to manage the office work.
SNEA continued its sincere persuasion elaborating all facts and was trying to convince BSNL Management that only needy executives will avail this leave as salary is not available during this Sabbatical Leave period and hence until and unless extreme urgency or emergency nobody will avail this leave. In case somebody may apply it, the same is up to the controlling officer , where it is to be approved or not and hence there should not be any issue. This argument was well agreed by all the officers in BSNL Management.
We have taken up important HR issues as non-financial issues with DoT, Honourable MoC for priority settlement and directions were issued to BSNL to consider the non-financial issues on priority and Sabbatical leave was one of these important HR agenda points. NEWS <<<>> Copy<<<>>
Our persuasion became fully justified after BSNL Board in its special meeting approved the Proposal of second VRS projecting that BSNL has excess executives and VRS will reduce the financial burden of BSNL. Copy<<<>>
By using this as base, SNEA has taken up this matter putting forward how it was dual stand of Management that one side it is said that BSNL has excess executives and other side it is stated that sabbatical leave, deputation to other Govt/PSU organisations is not possible due to shortage.
It is important that SNEA has not given any call of agitation by its members, but leaders were pursuing these issues with full justification and advocating it successfully and now the Sabbatical leave which is available to executives in about all PSUs is available to BSNL executives and the same is available for first time after 25 years of formation of BSNL and hence it has special importance.
We are aware that there is much anxiety among the BSNL Executives as it is first time available in BSNL and naturally many queries and doubts will be there.
In this regard, it is to inform that this facility will be available as available in other PSUs and mainly as available in MTNL.
Now the formal minutes of this BSNL Board meeting will be issued by CS Cell and on the basis of these minutes Estt Cell will be issuing notification for the same and most probably Sabbatical leave will be available for BSNL Executives from June 2026 onwards.
SNEA conveys special thanks with gratitude to Honourable Minister Of Communications Shri. Jyotiraditya Scindia ji and officers in his high office, officers in DoT for understanding need of this non-financial issues and giving directions to BSNL to look into such non-financial HR issues with due priority.
SNEA conveys sincere thanks and gratitude to Shri A. Robert J. Ravi, CMD BSNL for accepting our proposal and finally getting it approved from BSNL Board and giving positive vibes to BSNL Executives that management is looking into long pending HR issues one by one.
We convey thanks to Dr. Kalyan Sagar Nippani, Director HR. for his firm assurance in the agenda meeting and very positive and affirmative role in approving sabbatical leave.
In the overall process of initiation of proposal, understanding needs of BSNL and its Executives and shaping highly accepted proposal by all, replying doubts and queries by BSNL Management, Board etc, the role of Shri. S.P. Singh, PGM Estt BSNL CO and his team of stalwart executives in the Establishment section has played a vital and crucial role and SNEA fully recognises and appreciates it with sincere thanks and gratitude.
SNEA is pursuing many more such issues sincerely and we really mean that BSNL Executives will continue to get such due benefits in coming days starting with approval of enhancement of TA/DA rates for AGM and below level executives, Approval of Benevolent Fund for Executives, pending BSNL Board approval for Conversion of SPS to NPS, Restoration of all India LTC facility, Restoration of medical reimbursement limits, restoration of Kashmir Valley allowance etc. Hope for the Best.
