Hi Jhuma,
Your question is very interesting. but for knowing the difference between HR manual and HR policy first of all u have to understand the meaning of policy. That i will explained below.
Policies are the guideline to be followed by the organisation to achieve its long term objectives policies regarding training and development , policies regarding the promotion of employees , policies regarding the recruitment of employees e.t.c
Now as far as the Hr manual is concerned basically the collection of all the HR function which contains the procedure for carrying out those functions, so in short it is the collection of the procedure for achieving organisational goals.
Following examples will make all differences clear to you .
suppose an organisation is going to start recruitment drive, so here their recuritment drive will be based on the policy of the organisation, it means what company wants to achieve, their recuritment should support it for that they will derive a guidelines to be kept in mind for while hiring.
now the HR MANUAL will consist of steps to be followed in maintaining that guideline.
so this is the basic diffrence between hr manual and hr policies. hope example will make u doubt free.