Karnataka West Graduates Constituency voters receive special casual leave for poll day

UPDATE - follow-up to Graduates constituency voters to get special casual leave today: Eligible voters participating in the Karnataka West Graduates Constituency Council elections will receive a one-day special casual leave on Friday. Regional Commissioner of Belagavi Division and Returning Officer K.M. Janaki announced that employees need prior permission from their bosses to take this leave. Assistant Returning Officers and Deputy Commissioners must ensure workers in schools, offices, departments, and other groups can vote under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act 1951, following a State government notification from Saturday.

Closures and Polling

Government offices, schools, and colleges holding 137 polling stations across Dharwad, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, and Gadag districts stayed shut on Thursday. These locations also remain closed on Friday during polling. Officials declared this two-day break to keep law and order and run the voting process smoothly, with personnel earlier collecting election items from a mustering centre at Lamington School in Hubballi.

Context

Special casual leave rules help working citizens take part in democratic elections without losing pay or facing job trouble. Biennial council polls in India require careful local coordination across multiple districts to set up polling booths and manage staff duties.