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GOI.720

86 Power to grant leave of absence to Governor-General, &c.

(1) The Secretary of State may grant to the Governor-General and, on the recommendation of the Governor-General in Council, to the Commander-in-Chief, leave of absence for urgent reasons of public interest, or of health or of private affairs.

(2) The Governor-General in Council may grant to any member of his Executive Council (other than the Commander-in-Chief) leave of absence for urgent reasons of health or of private affairs.

(3) Leave of absence shall not be granted to any person in pursuance of this section for any period exceeding four months nor more than once during his tenure of office :Provided that the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, extend any period of leave so granted, but in any such case the reasons for the extension shall be set forth in a minute signed by the Secretary of State and laid before both Houses of Parliament.

(4) Where leave of absence is granted to any person in pursuance of this section, he shall retain his office during the period of leave as originally granted, or, if that period is extended by the Secretary of State during the period as so extended, but, if his absence exceeds that period, Ms office shall be deemed to have become vacant in the case of a person granted leave for urgent reasons of public interest as from the termination of that period and in any other case as from the commencement of his absence.

(5) Where a person obtains leave of absence in pursuance of this section, he shall be entitled to receive during his absence such leave-allowances as may be prescribed by rules made by the Secretary of State, but, if he does not resume his duties upon the termination of the period of the leave, he shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, repay, in such manner as may be so prescribed as aforesaid, any leave-allowances received under this subsection.

(6) If the Governor-General or the Commander-in-Chief is granted leave for urgent reasons of public interest, the Secretary of State may, in addition to the leave-allowances to which he is entitled under this section, grant to him such further allowances in respect of travelling expenses as the Secretary of State may think fit.

(7) Rules made under this section shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament as soon as may be after they are made.