Ambedkar Jayanti - Holiday

Today in NEWS i've seen that governoment has posed apublic holiday on April 14, 2012 in the eve of ambedkar Jyanti.
It said that all state and central governoment bodies, Banks and other establishments will remain close.
Does it mean every estblishment should close on April 14 ?

Dear Phani
These are all for Government and not for all the establishment. You must maintain only 3 national holiday i.e., Republic Day 26 Jan, Independence Day 15 Aug and Gandhi Jayanti 02 Oct. Other Holidays are observed as per the local area and employee's interest. About the Holiday details, your company must inform the same to Labour Commissioner Office before commencement of the year.

Birthday of Dr. Amdedkar, ie, 14th April, has been declared as holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act which is applicable to banks, financial companies and government departments and not for private industries and commercial establishments. In most of the states a separate Act, viz, Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act is in existence under which certain number of national holidays, such as 26th January, May 1st (May day) 15th August and 2nd October and some festival holidays which may be decided by the employer in consultation with the employees considering the religious and regional sentiments of the employees are declared every year. The number of holidays vary from state to state, say in Tamil Nadu if it is 4 National Holidays and 5 festival holidays, the same in Karnataka is 5 National holidays (November 1st is also a national holiday for Karnataka) and five festival holidays and that in Kerala it is 4 national holidays and nine festival holidays (probably the highest number of holidays!)

If Ambedkar jayanti is declared as national holiday by the respective states under the above said Act, then only 14th April will become a closed holiday for private sector establishments.

Madhu.T.K