Puducherry votes for its Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 9 April 2026, and the Union Territory government has declared the day a public holiday with pay. The declaration covers offices and establishments across the UT, so employees can vote without applying for leave.
Why the holiday was declared
Polling day is a working Thursday. Without a holiday, a lot of voters would be choosing between a shift and a queue at the booth, and turnout falls when they have to. The declaration takes that choice away, and it also takes away the argument that an employer could not spare the staff.
Who it applies to
- Government offices and institutions
- Local bodies
- Commercial establishments
- Industrial establishments
In practice, most workplaces in the UT will be closed for the day.
The pay part
This is where employers slip up. The day off is paid, and the pay rules are simple:
- Employees draw their normal wages for the day
- Daily wage and casual workers are entitled to the same
- No deduction may be made from anyone’s wages for the holiday
Where it comes from
- Section 25, Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, under which a day is notified as a public holiday
- Section 135B, Representation of the People Act, 1951, which gives employees a paid holiday on polling day and prohibits a wage cut for it
If you run an establishment in Puducherry
- Block 9 April in the attendance and payroll systems now, before someone schedules a shift on it
- Do not roster staff to work that day
- Check that the payroll run treats the day as paid for everyone, casual and daily wage staff included
Wage deductions on polling day are the usual trigger for a complaint under Section 135B.
For employees
- A paid day off
- Enough time to cast your vote
- No change to the month’s pay
Before the day
Check your name on the electoral roll and find your polling booth in advance. Both take a few minutes and save an argument on the morning itself.
Notification: Puducherry election holiday notification (PDF)