Sick Leave Rules in Karnataka

Under Section 15 of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, an employee is entitled to leave with wages of up to 12 days a year on account of sickness or accident, with no carry-forward to the next year. The Act does not separately enumerate casual leave as its own category, so short-notice personal leave is generally handled by individual employer policy rather than a statutory entitlement. Separately, earned/privilege leave accrues at one day for every 20 days worked, and unused earned leave can be carried forward up to 30 days. A doctor-issued medical certificate is the standard supporting document employers ask for when sick leave is availed under this Act.

Employees covered under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act (typically those earning within the applicable wage ceiling, at covered establishments) can also claim ESI sickness benefit separately, which has its own medical-certification requirements administered by ESIC.