Suspension Subsistence Allowance Calculator — Kerala

When a Kerala government employee is placed under suspension, they are not paid their normal salary. Instead, under Rule 55 of the Kerala Service Rules (KSR) Part I, they are paid a subsistence allowance — a reduced monthly payment intended to support the employee while the suspension and any disciplinary proceedings are pending. It is equal to the leave salary the employee would have drawn on half pay (i.e. 50% of pay) for the first six months, plus dearness allowance admissible on that amount.

For the first six months of suspension, the subsistence allowance is fixed at 50% of the pay (an amount equal to the half-pay leave salary) the employee was drawing immediately before suspension, plus Dearness Allowance calculated on that subsistence amount. House Rent Allowance and other compensatory allowances continue at the rate the employee was receiving before suspension, subject to the conditions in the rules.

Yes. If the suspension is prolonged for reasons NOT directly attributable to the employee (for example, delay caused by the department or enquiry authority), the competent authority may, by a specific order, enhance the subsistence allowance by a suitable amount not exceeding 50% of the existing rate — that is, up to a maximum of 75% of pay. The enhancement is not automatic; it requires a review and a formal order from the competent authority.

Yes. If the suspension is prolonged for reasons directly attributable to the employee (for example, the employee causes deliberate delay in the enquiry), the competent authority may reduce the subsistence allowance by a suitable amount not exceeding 50% — that is, down to a minimum of 25% of pay. Like enhancement, reduction requires a specific, recorded order from the competent authority and is applicable only after the first six months.

Yes. Dearness Allowance is admissible during suspension, but it is calculated on the subsistence allowance amount (the 50%/75%/25% figure), not on the full pay. For example, if the subsistence pay is ₹21,000 and the DA rate is 35%, the DA component is ₹7,350. DA rates are revised periodically and the rate applicable at the time of payment should be used.

House Rent Allowance and other compensatory allowances admissible before suspension continue to be paid at the same rates during suspension, provided the competent authority is satisfied that the employee continues to incur the expenditure for which the allowance was granted. However, allowances tied to actual performance of duty — such as travelling allowance or special pay for a post — are not payable while the employee is not performing those duties.

Subsistence allowance is payable from the date the suspension order takes effect and continues for the entire period of suspension. It stops when the suspension is revoked, when the employee is reinstated, or when the suspension ends on retirement, dismissal, or removal. On reinstatement, the period of suspension is regularised and the difference between the subsistence allowance already drawn and the pay finally allowed is settled as per the reinstatement order.

Compulsory deductions such as income tax, House Rent recovery for government quarters, repayment of advances, and contributions to GPF/SLI/GIS may be made from the subsistence allowance, but the rules restrict the extent of certain recoveries so that the employee is left with a minimum amount to subsist on. Optional or non-statutory deductions are generally not made without the employee's consent during the suspension period.

If, on conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings, the employee is fully exonerated (or the suspension is held to be wholly unjustified), the competent authority will order that the employee be paid the full pay and allowances they would have drawn had they not been suspended, after adjusting the subsistence allowance already paid. The suspension period is then treated as duty for all purposes. If the employee is not fully exonerated, the authority decides the pay for the suspension period and how it is regularised.