General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024 and Bye-Elections in West Bengal: Grant of Paid Holiday

The Governor has mandated that employers declare the scheduled poll dates as paid holidays for their workers under Section 135B of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. This provision ensures that every eligible voter can exercise their franchise without any hindrance. Employers must comply with this directive to facilitate their employees’ participation in the electoral process. All establishments and shops, including those operating on shift basis, are required to remain closed on polling days in the respective constituencies. Even workers registered as voters but employed outside the constituency with an ongoing election are entitled to the benefits of a paid holiday. It’s imperative that employers extend this paid holiday to all categories of workers and employees to uphold the democratic right to vote as enshrined in the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. This Notification was published on 22.03.2024.