Chandigarh |
The Haryana government has officially changed the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday on March 31, 2025 from a Gazetted (compulsory) holiday to a Restricted (optional) one. The reason? That day marks the final working day of the financial year 2024-25, which is crucial for government departments to close their books and complete accounting work.
In a notification signed by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, the government clarified that with March 29 and 30 falling on a weekend, declaring March 31 (Monday) as a mandatory holiday would hinder fiscal closure activities across departments.
“Eid-ul-Fitr shall be observed as a Restricted Holiday instead of a Gazetted Holiday due to the necessity of financial year-end closures,” the official circular stated.
🗓️ What Does This Change Mean?
- Gazetted Holidays are mandatory for government offices.
- Restricted Holidays are optional — employees can choose whether to take leave.
This means Muslim employees who wish to celebrate Eid will need to apply for leave instead of getting an automatic day off.
Context & Community Impact
Haryana has nearly 18 lakh Muslims, forming around 6% of the state’s population. While some have expressed disappointment over the move, officials argue that year-end fiscal work is non-negotiable and essential for public finance management.
What’s Next?
The actual date of Eid depends on moon sighting — if the moon is spotted on March 30, Eid will be celebrated on March 31, which collides with the fiscal deadline. However, if the moon is sighted later, the holiday may naturally shift to April 1.
