The Government of Maharashtra,issued a circular addressing the need to provide voters with a paid holiday to exercise their voting rights during the Lok Sabha General Election-2024.
The circular is in response to the Election Commission of India’s press release and letter announcing the election schedule, which will be conducted in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20, 2024.
It emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all registered citizens above the age of 18 have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process by casting their votes. The circular outlines specific instructions for providing paid holidays to workers, officers, and employees who are voters in polling areas where elections are held, and it stresses that appropriate action will be taken against establishments failing to comply with these instructions. Additionally, the circular provides detailed information on the phases of voting and the corresponding Lok Sabha constituencies.
Furthermore, the government circular mandates that workers, officers, employees, and individuals who are voters in the polling areas should be granted a paid holiday to vote on Election Day.
If providing a full-day holiday is not feasible, a concession of at least two hours should be given for voting, subject to the prior permission of the respective Collector and District Election Officer. The circular also emphasizes that all corporations, industrial groups, companies, institutions, and establishments falling under the Industries Department must ensure compliance with these instructions.
It further stipulates that the circular is being issued in accordance with the Election Commission of India’s press release and letter dated March 16, 2024. The circular has been made available on the Maharashtra government website with a digital signature attestation, and copies have been forwarded to various concerned establishments and authorities for dissemination and implementation.
In addition, the document includes an annexure detailing the phases of voting and the corresponding Lok Sabha constituencies for each phase. This detailed schedule is crucial for the effective implementation of the government circular and ensures that the necessary arrangements are made to facilitate voter participation across different regions and constituencies in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha General Election-2024.
