(a)Where the leave is for a period of one month or less and the incapacity is not due to definite injury, the authority competent to sanction leave may, at its discretion, secure a second medical opinion by requesting the civil surgeon to have the applicant physically examined. Should it decide to do so, it must arrange for the second medical examination to be made on the earliest possible date after the date on which the first medical opinion was given.(b)In all cases of illness necessitating leave beyond one month and in all cases of definite injury, the sanctioning authority should, except in cases covered by clause (c) of this rule, obtain a second medical opinion from the authorised medical attendant and should, for this purpose, arrange for the second medical examination to be made on the earliest possible date after the date on which the first medical opinion was given. The sanctioning authority may relax the provisions of this rule, provided it refers each case for such relaxation to the authorised medical attendant and the latter considers it desirable that relaxation should be given either on account of distance or the nature of illness.(c)If the applicant for leave is a female and a second medical opinion is considered necessary whether the leave exceeds one month or not, the civil surgeon should be requested to obtain this whenever possible from a medical woman in government employment. If this is not possible, he himself should give this second medical opinion in cases where full examination by him is permitted by the applicant. In cases where this is not permitted, the authority competent to sanction leave may obtain a second medical opinion from a private registered female practitioner. Should such a practitioner not be available, he may dispense with a second medical opinion.(d)In all cases in which a second medical opinion is obtained, it will be the duty of the person giving that opinion to express an opinion both as regards the facts of the illness and as regards the necessity for the amount of leave recommended. In the case of a male applicant the civil surgeon may require the applicant to appear either before himself or before a medical officer nominated by him. The civil surgeon, or, in case where a second medical opinion is obtained from a private registered female practitioner under clause (c) above the authority competent to sanction leave, will arrange for the medical examination to take place at the applicant's residence if this course is necessary on account of the nature of the applicant's illness.
