Wednesday (October 16): The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an order today saying officials on “field duty” will not be granted leave till November 30.
The instructions came on the last day of the Supreme Court hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute case.
The official order, however, attributed the decision to the festival season.
In the order, Additional Chief Secretary Mukul Singhal said the government after deliberations decided that in view of the coming festival season, no official should be granted leave, unless in the most unavoidable circumstances, till November 30.
Uttar Pradesh Government: In the view of upcoming festivals, no leaves will be granted till 30th November to the officers in field. All officers in field directed to be present at their offices till 30th November. pic.twitter.com/cPejE3WMG6
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 16, 2019
Officials considered to be on field duties include police officers posted at the district and lower levels, as well as district magistrates.
The order also directed the officials to remain present at the headquarters of their respective places of posting.
Singhal said strict compliance of the order must be ensured.
Director Information, Shishir, said, “The cancellation of duties during festival season is a normal thing and there is nothing unusual in it.”
Besides Diwali, other festivals falling in the second fortnight of this month include Karva Chauth, Chehallum Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhaiya Dooj.
Chhath (sun worship) festival, barawafat, Guru Nanak Jayanti/Kartik Purnima are slated in the first fortnight of November.
The Uttar Pradesh administration last week imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in Ayodhya till December 10 ahead of the Supreme Court order in the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.
Posting the order on his official Twitter account, District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said, “The order has been issued considering safety and security of Ayodhya and those visiting here as Govt’s paramount concerns.”
