Is It Legal for My Company to Deduct Half-Day Pay for a Short Absence in Uttar Pradesh?

Dear Sir, I work in a private firm in Uttar Pradesh, and my office timing is from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. I was absent for 2.5 hours from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm due to personal reasons. The company deducted half of my day's salary and informed me that it would be treated as a half-day. Could you please explain if this is a law in Uttar Pradesh?

Leave Policy Inquiry

Secondly, I joined this company on the 25th of May 2018, and it has been one month since then. I applied for leave and inquired about the leave policy. I was informed that I would be eligible for leave after completing one year from the joining date, and my salary would be deducted for a day of leave.

Please explain this policy further.

Thank you.

You have not specified the nature of your firm. However, assuming it to be covered under the UP Shop & Establishment Act 1962 and as per Section 10(3), there is no qualifying service prescribed for getting 10 days of casual leave in a calendar year.