Polling Day: Edu institutions closed on Nov 30, companies asked to declare holiday

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad district administration, led by district collector Anudeep Durishetty, has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in the city on November 29 and 30, in light of the polling day on November 30.

“In view of the Telangana Assembly Elections 2023, all educational institutions in Hyderabad district will remain closed on November 29 and 30. Regular activities will resume on December 1,” said Anudeep Durishetty in the public notice about the holiday for Election Day.

This step underscores the role educational institutions play in the electoral process, as they often serve as polling stations. Closing them on the specified dates ensures minimal disruption and contributes to creating an environment conducive to active voter participation.

IT companies, private firms told to close for polling

In tandem with these efforts, the chief electoral officer Vikas Raj has written to the state labour department to declare November 30 as a holiday. This is to ensure that employees, government and private, across the state can exercise their right to vote without hindrance.

The notice, addressed to the Commissioner of Labour, Telangana State, emphasised the need for private establishments and IT companies to declare a holiday on Election Day.

“Complaints were received that some private establishments and IT companies did not declare a holiday during the previous general elections to Telangana State Legislative Assembly in 2018 and Lok Sabha in 2019. This amounts to a violation of Section 135 B of the Representation of People Act, 1951, and other Labour Laws. The Commissioner of Labour is requested to check compliance and initiate stringent action as per electoral laws and other applicable labour laws,” the notice from the CEO said.

This move underlines the commitment to upholding electoral rights and reinforces the importance of unhindered voter participation in the democratic process. The initiative aims to rectify past grievances and ensure that employees across various sectors have the opportunity to cast their votes on November 30.

This decision is aligned with the objective of facilitating a smooth and efficient electoral process. As Telangana gears up for the Assembly Elections, the combined efforts of the chief electoral officer and the district administration underscore the commitment to a fair and accessible electoral process.

The results of the statewide elections will be observed on December 3, as the state awaits the outcome of the elections that will shape its governance for the next five years.