21ST DECEMBER, 2024 DECLARED AS A 'CLOSE DAY' WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL BODIES TO ENABLE WORKERS OF SHOPS, FACTORIES, AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS TO CAST THEIR VOTE

Chandigarh, 19 December 2024:

General and Bye-elections to 5 Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils apart from some other ward-wise bye-elections will be conducted on 21st  December, 2024. In order to ensure due opportunity to voters to exercise their franchise in these local body elections, the following information is being shared with the general public.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission said that 21 December (Saturday) would be declared as a public holiday in all Punjab Government offices situated in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies where elections are going to be held under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

He further informed that Special leave to government employees and other workers who are voters of these municipal bodies which are going to the polls but employed elsewhere would be allowed as per rules.  In addition, he added that holiday would be declared in all the schools whose buildings are being used for election purposes.

It is for the information of the general public that 21st December, 2024 has been declared as a 'Close Day' within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls under the provisions of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, and the Factories Act, 1948 to enable workers of such shops, factories, and commercial establishments located in the revenue jurisdiction of the concerned Municipal Body to cast their vote.

It is also informed that 21st December, 2024 (Saturday) has been declared as a "Dry Day" in the revenue jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls.

Furthermore, he added that Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjabi University Patiala, and Panjab University, Chandigarh have informed that they have postponed all those annual and semester exams which were scheduled to be held on 21st  December, 2024 to some other date. Students who were to appear in various exams on these dates may refer to the concerned University Website for details of the fresh dates.

The Commission has made all suitable measures for the conduct of the polls in a free and fair manner and encourages all voters whose names are entered in the electoral rolls to exercise their franchise.