New Delhi, Apr 3 (TNT): The Election Commission of India has announced that all eligible voters will be entitled to a paid holiday on polling days for the upcoming Assembly elections and bye-elections scheduled this month.
According to an official release issued here on Friday, elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura on April 9, while Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra will go to the polls on April 23.
Polling in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
As per Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or other establishment and entitled to vote shall be granted a paid holiday on the day of polling.
The provisions also ensure that no deduction of wages shall be made for such leave, and any employer violating the rules will be liable to a fine.
The Commission clarified that the benefit extends to daily wage and casual workers as well.
It further said that employees working outside their constituency but registered as voters in a polling constituency will also be entitled to a paid holiday to enable them to exercise their franchise.
The ECI has directed all State and Union Territory governments to issue necessary instructions for strict compliance to ensure that voters can cast their votes freely and conveniently.
TNT KS
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