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Kerala Polls: CPI-M MP Demands Paid Holiday for Postal Staff on Voting Day

Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, seeking a paid holiday for Kerala's postal employees on April 9, the day of the state's Assembly election. He argues that a recent circular treating them as "Absentee Voters in Essential Services" and imposing a tight deadline for postal ballots is arbitrary and hampers their right to vote. Brittas cites the Representation of the People Act, which mandates a paid holiday, and points out that postal staff in other poll-bound states like Assam are being granted this leave. He urges the Minister to issue directions ensuring postal employees can exercise their franchise in person, subject only to unavoidable essential arrangements.

Key Points: Kerala Polls: MP Seeks Paid Holiday for Postal Employees

  • MP seeks paid holiday for postal staff
  • Cites Section 135B of RPA, 1951
  • Calls circular on postal ballots arbitrary
  • Notes inconsistency with other poll-bound states
  • Urges urgent intervention
2 min read

Kerala polls: CPI-M MP John Brittas seeks paid holiday for postal staff on April 9

CPI-M MP John Brittas urges Union Minister Scindia to grant postal staff a paid holiday for Kerala Assembly elections on April 9.

"The right to vote lies at the core of India's democratic framework - John Brittas"

New Delhi, April 5

Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala John Brittas has approached Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia seeking a grant of a paid holiday to postal employees on the day of the Assembly election on April 9.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP sought an urgent intervention to enable postal employees to exercise their franchise.

In his letter, Brittas expressed concern over instructions issued by the Kerala Postal Circle treating the entire category of postal employees as "Absentee Voters in Essential Services (AVES)" and directing them to opt for a postal ballot within an extremely limited timeframe.

He pointed out that the circular dated March 19 required the collection of Form 12D by March 20 and submission at the respective Collectorates by March 22, both of which fell on holidays, making meaningful compliance difficult and raising apprehensions regarding the arbitrary nature of the directions.

Brittas emphasised that Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 mandates the grant of a paid holiday on the day of poll to enable employees to exercise their franchise.

He noted that even where certain services are treated as essential, long-standing administrative practice has been to maintain only minimal required operations on polling day, without denying employees the opportunity to vote in person.

The CPI-M MP also pointed out that in several other states going to polls, including Assam, postal employees are being granted a holiday on polling day in accordance with statutory provisions.

He noted that in previous Assembly elections in Kerala, postal establishments had observed polling day holiday subject only to limited essential arrangements.

The present deviation raises concerns regarding inconsistency in the application of the law and the avoidable curtailment of the democratic rights of employees, he said.

Stating that the right to vote lies at the core of India's democratic framework, Brittas urged the Union Minister to examine the matter urgently and issue appropriate directions to ensure that postal employees in Kerala are granted the statutory paid holiday on polling day, subject only to such limited essential arrangements as may be strictly unavoidable.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally, an MP who is actually looking out for the common worker! Postal staff work hard year-round. Denying them a simple paid holiday to vote, especially when the law provides for it, is undemocratic. Hope Scindia ji takes swift action.
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Aman W
While I support the holiday, I have to ask - is this a genuine concern for workers or political posturing before elections? The timing seems convenient. Still, the core issue is valid and should be addressed impartially.
S
Sarah B
The inconsistency between states is puzzling. If it's the same central law, why different implementation? This creates confusion and undermines trust in the system. Uniform application of the Representation of the People Act is a must.
K
Karthik V
As someone from Kerala, I appreciate this intervention. Our postal workers are the backbone of communication in many remote areas. They deserve their democratic right without jumping through bureaucratic hoops. Setting deadlines on holidays is just unfair, yaar.
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Nisha Z
Essential services need to function, but as the MP said, minimal staffing can be arranged. Denying the holiday entirely is an overreach. Every vote counts, and every citizen's convenience matters. Hope the Minister resolves this quickly.

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