The Haryana government’s human resources department on Wednesday notified that the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed as a restricted holiday rather than a gazetted holiday, as one of the expected days of Eid is March 31, the closing day of the financial year.
Government staff will have the option to take paid leave during restricted holidays, unlike on gazetted holidays when government offices and institutions are closed for the day.
The decision was attributed to the fact that March 29 and 30 are weekends, while March 31 marks the last day of the financial year. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini defended the move, saying, It is the first time that three holidays coincide with the financial year’s closing.
“I have already said in the House that this should not be turned into an issue. This is the first time that three holidays coincide with the financial year’s closing. Since many financial transactions take place on this day, we have designated Eid-ul-Fitr as a restricted holiday,” Saini said in the Haryana Assembly.
Congress leader and Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed said the state government’s decision “exposed the mindset” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
