J&K Govt announces paid holidays for poll days

Srinagar, Aug 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government Friday declared public holidays on poll dates for three phases of the upcoming assembly polls in all 90 assembly constituencies.

As per a government order, issued by the General Administrative Department (GAD), the government has notified three days as holidays under Section 135 B of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

According to the GAD order, the paid holidays would be observed as per the election dates in all assembly constituencies across J&K.

In the first phase, to be held on September 18, 2024, the paid holiday will be observed in 24 assembly segments.

In the second phase of elections, the paid holiday will be observed in 26 assembly constituencies on September 25, 2024.

Similarly, in the last phase of the assembly elections scheduled on October 1, 2024, paid holidays would be observed in 40 assembly segments.

The order also declared the poll day as a paid holiday for every eligible voter in her or his respective assembly constituency employed in any business, trade, industrial undertakings, or any other establishment.

The order said that no deduction or abatement of the wages of any such person would be made on account of a holiday having been granted following sub-section (1) and if such person is employed on the basis that she or he would not ordinarily receive wages for such a day, she or he should nonetheless be paid for such day the wages she or he would have drawn had not a holiday been granted to her or him on that day.

The order read that if an employer contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), then such employer would be punishable with a fine, which may extend to Rs 500.

“This section will not apply to any elector whose absence may cause danger or substantial loss in respect of the employment in which he is engaged,” it said.

The order said that the daily wage and casual workers would also be entitled to the holiday and wages on the poll day.

It further ordered that the paid holidays would also be observed in terms of explanation to Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.