Leave may be granted to a Government servant at the discretion of the authority entitled to grant the leave, subject to the following restrictions :
(a), (b) & (c). [Not printed].
(d) The maximum period of continuous absence from duty on leave granted otherwise than on medical certificate is twenty-eight months. The period shall in no circumstances be exceeded by a Government servant who is on leave preparatory to retirement. Note :—A Government servant who is compulsorily retired from service before completing 25 years of qualifying superior service may be given leave preparatory to retirement, provided the grant of leave does not vitiate the orders of compulsory retirement.
(c) When a Government servant returns from leave which was not due and which was debited against his leave account, no leave will become due to him until the expiration of a fresh period spent on duty sufficient to earn a credit of leave equal to the period of leave which he took before it was due.