‘Declaring Eid Milad as working day is unfair’: JKCSF
Srinagar: The Jammu Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) has expressed concern over the authorities’ handling of religious holidays, highlighting issues with the recognition of lunar calendar dates.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the JKCSF Chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani, in a statement issued in Srinagar criticized the authorities for their failure to adjust the official calendar and attendance systems to reflect the correct dates of Islamic holidays.
He said, “Declaring September 17 as a working day is unfair to the Muslim community, who are left in a state of confusion and unable to observe the day properly.”
He explained that the Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning dates can vary based on the moon’s appearance, necessitating adjustments to scheduled holidays and festivals.
He pointed out that the issue was evident during Eid-ul-Fitr 2024, when attendance systems did not accommodate the holiday’s variable date, leading to confusion and employee absences. A similar problem has arisen with Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), which is observed on September 17. Despite this, the government’s calendar and attendance systems mistakenly mark it for September 16.
“Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) is a highly revered day for Muslims, who perform special devotions and visit shrines such as Hazratbal in Srinagar,” Wani said.
The JKCSF has called for an investigation into why the holiday date was not updated and urged the authorities to issue a special casual leave for employees on September 17 to allow them to participate in religious activities. The forum also emphasized the need for measures to prevent similar oversights in the future.
