In a significant announcement, the Uttarakhand government has declared a public holiday on April 19 for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This decision aims to facilitate voter participation and ensure that all citizens can exercise their voting rights conveniently. The General Administration Department has issued orders regarding the public holiday on the voting day, April 19, in the state.
In Madhya Pradesh, where the Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases
Both general and public holidays have been announced on voting days. Additionally, between April 6 and April 14, there will be only two working days in Madhya Pradesh, with the rest declared as holidays.
On April 19 in Uttarakhand, all educational institutions, banks, government and private offices, as well as industrial and manufacturing units, will remain closed. This decision underscores the importance of ensuring that all citizens can participate in the democratic process of elections.
The benefit of statutory holidays is being extended under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
Enabling the state to declare holidays. District authorities have been directed to extensively publicize this decision at the local level to ensure maximum benefit for voters during elections.
The Election Commission has directed that on voting days, all government offices, educational institutions, banks, and treasuries will remain closed in all districts of Uttarakhand. The Secretary of Uttarakhand, R. Meenakshi Sundaram, has issued orders for statutory holidays on April 19, 2024 (Friday). Furthermore, all businesses, shops, and commercial establishments will also remain closed on this day. Organizations in all industries have been instructed to grant statutory holidays to all employees for voting, allowing a maximum number of workers to exercise their voting rights.
In Madhya Pradesh, where Lok Sabha elections will also be held in four phases, the state government has declared public and general holidays in the respective areas on voting days, taking into account the voting dates in the first phase on April 19 (Friday), the second phase on April 26 (Friday), the third phase on May 7 (Tuesday), and the fourth phase on May 13 (Monday).
Between April 6 and April 14, due to festivals like Gudi Padwa, Eid al-Fitr, and other holidays, government offices in Madhya Pradesh will only be open for two days, specifically April 8 (Monday) and April 12 (Friday). Additionally, holidays will be observed on April 17 (Wednesday) and April 21 (Sunday).
During the two days when offices are open
Employees wishing to take leave will need permission. Due to the general elections, applications for leave from employees will not be approved by office heads. Only the District Election Officer, namely the Collector, will be authorized to approve employee leave.
In summary, with elections approaching, government employees in both Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh can benefit from the announced holidays, ensuring their participation in the democratic process without any inconvenience.