Now, the number of gazetted holidays in Punjab are almost equal to the ones declared by the central government —17 — for 2018.
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has slashed to half the number of public holidays in the state — to 18 in 2018 from 37 this year.
It has, however, increased the number of restricted holidays from 18 to 39. Employees can choose any five of 39 restricted holidays this year as against two last year.
“Government has decided to reduce the number of gazetted holidays in 2018 to enable better public service to the citizens and to ensure more teaching days in educational institutions,” said a government communiqué.
“With this reform, government offices will remain open for 21 more days in 2018 as compared to 2017. At the same time, government employees will be able to avail of more restricted holidays than previously, in keeping with their preferences,” it added.
Now, the number of gazetted holidays in Punjab are almost equal to the ones declared by the central government —17 — for 2018.
The move has triggered a political furore with the opposition Akalis demanding an “immediate rollback” of this “totally dictatorial, irrational and insensitive step taken without taking the other stakeholders into confidence”.
Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD spokesman and senior vice-president of the party, said the Congress government had been resorting to gimmicks since its formation.
“Now, it has suddenly slashed the list of government holidays, arrogantly ignoring peoples’ cultural and religious attachments to important days,” Cheema told ThePrint.
Castigating the state government for deleting occasions such as the birth and martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Vaisakhi, Mahashivratri, Eid-Ul-Zuha, among others, Cheema said the government should not repeat its history of playing with the sentiments of people, which could “push the state into the communal disharmony”.
While employees associations in Punjab are yet to respond to the government’s order, those in neighbouring Haryana can breathe a sigh of relief.
Haryana has announced 36 gazetted holidays for 2018, which is almost the same as last year. The list of restricted holidays mentions seven, of which employees can avail two holidays.
Himachal Pradesh has declared 23 gazetted holidays and 14 restricted holidays, almost the same as last year.
The number of holidays, however, has been increasing over the years in Punjab and Haryana. In 2010, for instance, Punjab had issued a list of 32 public holidays while Haryana had announced 29. Haryana increased it to 33 in 2014 and 36 in 2016.