7-Day Mourning Declared
No Holiday for Union Govt Schools, Offices
New Delhi: The office of
the President of India had assumed a new meaning in the hearts of billions of
Indians from year 2002 to 2007 – the Kalam years at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Kalam was the people's president. His endearing nature and undying commitment
to see India progress and prosper had turned him into one of the most popular
personalities of our times.
One of his biggest
passion was to interact with students to instil in them a fire to succeed in
life. His personal life story starting from a poverty-ridden childhood, to a struggle to
get education, and his contribution to India's missile technology was and will
always remain a source of inspiration for the country.
Dr Kalam was as well
versed with the Koran as he was with the Bhagvad Gita – a secular Indian in the true sense. The common man of India is
in grief today.
Social Media Abuzz With Rumors,
No Holiday For
Schools, Colleges On Tuesday
In view of former
President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s sudden death on Monday, Social media is abuzz
with the rumors of government order for schools to be closed on Tuesday as mark
of respect. Many schools have already sent advisory that the school would remain closed on Tuesday, but there was no
official declaration of any holiday by the Union government. Karnataka was
among the first states to declare a holiday tomorrow for all schools and government offices, where Dr Kalam was a resident throughout his
40-years career as a DRDO scientist and holds special image among the science
fraternity.
No state holiday for
schools, colleges today,
says Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde
Maharashtra
education minister Vinod Tawde has said that the union government has confirmed
that there will be no state holiday for schools and colleges on Tuesday,
following the death of ex-President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
The government has declared a
national mourning period of 7 days, Union Home
Secretary LC
Goyal had earlier said.
This is a drastic
departure from convention. Protocol allows for 7 days mourning only in the
event of death of a sitting President. The government's declaration therefore
speaks of the standing of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the minds of the people as well
as in political circles.
7-Day Mourning Declared,
No Holiday for Union Govt Schools,
Offices
Karnataka Declares Holiday
The government has declared a seven-day mourning following the death of former President Dr
APJ Abdul Kalam but no holiday was declared on Tuesday for schools
or government offices in view of the protocol that stipulates only 3-day mourning and no
holiday, barring Karnataka which was home to him for over 40 years.
In view of the
admiration for the former president among the people, the Centre has decided to
make it a 7-day mourning that is reserved only in the event of the death of a
sitting president.
The government has
cleared that the schools and offices will remain open but some state
governments have declared a holiday such as Karnataka, where Dr Kalam was
a resident throughout his career as a DRDO scientist and holds special image
among the science fraternity.
What DoPT's Order says in this regard?
HOLIDAYS: The existing
system of holidays will continue. No holiday shall, however, be declared in the event of death of any person other than the incumbent
President of India or the incumbent Prime Minister of India. Suitable
orders in this regard have already been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs
vide OM No. 3/2/97-Public dated 21.11.1997.Full text of OM reproduced below:-
Government’s
instructions on reduction in number of Casual Leave: DoPT OM
No.
12/9/94-JCA
Ministry
of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department
of Personnel & Training
North
Block, New Delhi
January
14, 1998
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:- Reduction in Casual Leave entitlement and various recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission in respect of number of holiday/working week etc.
*****
In the light of the
various recommendations of Fifty Central Pay Commission contained in Chapter
118 of the Report relating to Hours of Work and Holidays etc., the following
decisions have been taken by the Government.
2. WORKING WEEK: It has
been decided to continue the five-day-week working system introduced since
June-1985 in the civil administrative offices of Government of India.
Departments whose functions are pre-dominantly marked by public dealings or of
commercial nature and at present are functioning on 5-day-week basis, will
review the existing arrangements and switch over to 6-day-week wherever
feasible. Action taken in this regard will be reported to this Ministry within
the next four months.
3. HOLIDAYS: The
existing system of holidays will continue. No holiday shall, however, be declared in the event of death of any person other than the incumbent
President of India or the incumbent Prime Minister of India. Suitable
orders in this regard have already been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs
vide OM No. 3/2/97-Public dated 21.11.1997.
4. CASUAL LEAVE
ENTITLEMENT: It has also been decided to reduce with effect from Ist January,
1998 the number of days of Casual Leave for Central Government employees from
the existing 12 days to 8 days in a year. Various Departments may also effect
corresponding reduction with effect from Ist January, 1998 where the
Casual Leave entitlement for certain categories is higher than 12 under
intimation to this Ministry.
5. All
Ministries/Departments may bring the above decision to the notice of all
concerned under their administrative control and ensure compliance with these
instructions.
Sd/-
(HARINDER
SINGH)
JOINT
SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF INDIA
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