Haryana govt declares Eid-ul-Fitr a gazetted holiday for private offices after controversy

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini had told the House that the decision was taken as March 31

The Haryana government  announced Eid-ul-Fitr as a holiday on March 31 for private offices or institutions which follows the list of gazetted holidays meant for public offices.

Following controversy over the government's notification designating Eid-ul-Fitr as a restricted holiday instead of a gazetted holiday this year, the BJP-led government said that it would modify the notification. The revised decision grants a holiday for private office employees in line with the gazetted holiday list, news agency PTI reported.

Earlier, the government, in a notification on Thursday, had declared a restricted holiday under Schedule II instead of a gazetted holiday on Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31, "due to the fact that March 29 and 30 are weekend off days and March 31 being the closing day of the Financial Year 2024-2025."

As per the modifications made to the notification on Sunday, if an employee has already used up their restricted holidays, an additional restricted holiday will be granted.

"Moreover, if certain private offices or institutions follow the gazetted holidays list intended for public offices, all such entities must observe March 31, 2025, as a holiday," the notification states. Gazetted holidays are mandatory, while restricted holidays are optional, allowing employees to take them at their discretion.

Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed raised the matter in the State Assembly on Friday after the Haryana government decided to declare Eid a restricted holiday instead of a gazetted one. “The festival will be celebrated all over the country but the Haryana government has declared a restricted holiday on the occasion,” the MLA from Nuh said.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini had told the House that the decision was taken as March 31 is the last day of the financial year. "It should not be made an issue," he said.