Public Holiday on Ambedkar Jayanti: Should All Establishments Close on April 14?

Today in the news, I've seen that the government has declared a public holiday on April 14, 2012, on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti. It was stated that all state and central government bodies, banks, and other establishments will remain closed. Does this mean that every establishment should close on April 14?

These guidelines are specific to government establishments and do not apply to all types of organizations. It is essential to adhere to only three national holidays, namely Republic Day on 26th January, Independence Day on 15th August, and Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October. Other holidays should be determined based on local practices and employee preferences. Your company should provide information regarding holiday schedules to the Labor Commissioner's Office before the start of the year.

Thank you.

Understanding Holiday Declarations for Ambedkar Jayanti

The birthday of Dr. Ambedkar, i.e., 14th April, has been declared a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, which applies to banks, financial companies, and government departments but not to private industries and commercial establishments.

In most states, a separate act, namely the Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, exists. Under this act, a certain number of national holidays, such as 26th January, May 1st (May Day), 15th August, and 2nd October, along with some festival holidays that may be decided by the employer in consultation with the employees considering the religious and regional sentiments of the employees, are declared every year. The number of holidays varies from state to state. For example, in Tamil Nadu, it is 4 national holidays and 5 festival holidays, while in Karnataka, it is 5 national holidays (November 1st is also a national holiday for Karnataka) and 5 festival holidays. In Kerala, it is 4 national holidays and 9 festival holidays (probably the highest number of holidays!).

If Ambedkar Jayanti is declared a national holiday by the respective states under the aforementioned act, then only 14th April will become a closed holiday for private sector establishments.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K