No long weekend for bankers in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Oct 19: It is divine intervention that has saved the banking public from non-availability of branch banking services for five consecutive days in Tamil Nadu starting October 21.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order changing the Muharram holiday from October 23 to 24.

As a result, government-owned banks and insurance companies would work on October 23.

On October 16, the Chief Kazi requested the state government to declare October 24 as a government holiday as the 10th day of Muharram would be observed only on Saturday, not Friday.

The Chief Kazi told the government that the crescent of the lunar month of Muharram was not sighted on October 13 and that the `Yoem-e-Shahadath (10th day of Muharram) would be observed on October 24 in Tamil Nadu.

Acceeding to the request, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued its order changing the holiday date from October 23 to 24 under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

As per an earlier arrangement, between October 21 and 25, branches of government-owned banks and insurance companies would have remained closed due to festivals and weekly closures.

If employees take two days of casual leave on October 19 and 20, then the whole week is off for them.

Second and fourth Saturdays of a month are holidays for government-owned banks.

IANS