Maharashtra mandates paid leave for employees on February 7 polling day
As per the order, workers, officers and employees who are registered voters in polling areas must be granted a paid holiday on election day. The provision applies to all establishments under the department’s jurisdiction, including factories, shops and commercial establishments
Amritpal Singh Sanhotra 
The Maharashtra government on Monday announced a paid holiday or special concession for employees in industries, establishments and factories on February 7, when general elections will be held to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across the state.
According to an official notification issued by the Department of Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining, the directive aims to ensure that all eligible voters, including those residing near state borders or working outside their polling constituencies, are able to exercise their right to vote.
As per the order, workers, officers and employees who are registered voters in polling areas must be granted a paid holiday on election day.
The provision applies to all establishments under the department’s jurisdiction, including factories, shops and commercial establishments.
The order covers private companies, retail outlets, residential hotels, eateries, lodging houses, theatres, trade and industrial units, information technology companies, shopping centres, malls and other similar establishments.
In exceptional cases involving hazardous or essential public utility services, where granting a full-day holiday may result in significant operational losses, employers have been directed to provide a special concession of two to three hours to employees to enable them to vote.
A public holiday will be applicable in Zilla Parishads of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Latur, covering all Panchayat Samitis under their jurisdiction.
Maharashtra Zilla Parishad elections: Teachers seek relief to appear for CTET exams
Teachers scheduled to appear for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) have sought exemption from election duty after the Zilla Parishad poll dates were rescheduled from February 5 to February 7 last week.
“CTET aspirants have been allotted February 7 and 8 as their examination dates. Candidates also need to factor in travel and accommodation, as several teachers have been assigned centres located far from their homes,” said Sudhir Ghagas of the Shikshan Kranti Sanghatana. The CTET, administered centrally by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), is a mandatory qualifying examination for teachers from Standards I to VIII.
“The question now is whether candidates should appear for an examination they have prepared for or report for election duty,” Ghagas said.
The Zilla Parishad elections were originally scheduled for February 5 but were postponed following a three-day state mourning period after the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
“Although some circulars state that the examination will be conducted on February 8, teachers continue to face difficulties as the centres allotted to them are located far away,” said Mahendra Ganpule, former president of the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association.
Following these representations, officials from the Zilla Adhikari Office have sought details of teachers who are scheduled to appear for the CTET on Friday.
