Paid holiday on polling day: IT firms not exempted

Making it clear that companies in the information technology sector will have to declare a paid holiday on the day of polling (April 24, 2014 in Tamil Nadu), Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on said he would discuss with State IT secretary (T.K. Ramachandran) the matter of ensuring IT companies fall in line with the Election Commission’s directive.

Responding to a reporter’s observation that some IT firms might not grant a holiday on the day of polling, the CEO said the office of the Labour Commissioner had already issued an instruction to all firms and establishments to declare a paid holiday.

Provisions of several laws such as the Representation of People Act, Negotiable Instruments Act and Factories Act could be invoked in this regard. Those who had not given a paid holiday could be booked under Section 135 –B of the RP Act, which stipulates the levy of a fine of Rs. 500.