Bihar Government Declares Paid Holidays for Voting Days in Lok Sabha Polls

The Bihar government has announced that employees of both public and private institutions will be granted paid holidays on the voting days during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The decision comes ahead of the voting for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, scheduled to take place across seven phases from April 19 to June 1. Additionally, the bypoll for the Agiaon (Bhojpur) assembly constituency will also be held on June 1. According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), all offices and workplaces in the Lok Sabha constituencies voting on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1 will observe holidays. The provision for granting paid leave to employees on voting days is outlined in Section 135 ‘B’ of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

This move by the Bihar government aims to facilitate greater participation in the democratic process by ensuring that employees have the opportunity to cast their votes without any hindrance. By declaring paid holidays on voting days, the government intends to encourage voter turnout and uphold the principles of democracy. This decision reflects the government’s commitment to promoting civic engagement and ensuring that citizens can exercise their fundamental right to vote in the Lok Sabha elections.