Guidelines on Holidays on death of high dignitaries
The Government's instructions on declaring Holidays on the death of high dignitaries:-
President : In the event of the death of the President :
(1) All offices of the Central Government will be closed throughout India on the day of which death occurs; and
(2) On the day of the funeral –
a. all offices of the Central Government will be closed throughout India;
b. industrial establishments of the Central Government will be closed at the place where the funeral takes place; and
c. a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, will be declared by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the place where the funeral takes place, if it is not already a public holiday.
Vice-President:
a. throughout India on the day on which death occurs; and
b. at the place where the funeral takes place, for half-a-day on the day of the funeral.
Prime Minister: all offices of the Central Government will be closed throughout India on the day on which death occurs and also on the day of the funeral.
Union Cabinet Ministers: offices of the Central Government will be closed:
a. for half a day in Delhi; and
b. if the funeral takes place outside Delhi, for half a day at the place where the funeral takes place.
Other members of the Council of Ministers of the Union:
a Minister of a State, or Deputy Minister of the Union, offices of the Central Government under the direct charge of the deceased Minister will be closed:
a. for half a day in Delhi; and
b. if the funeral takes place outside Delhi, for half a day at the place where the funeral takes place.
Governor or Chief Minister of a State:
Central Government offices will be closed :
a. in the capital of the State concerned for half a day.
b. if death occurs at a place outside the State Capital, also for half a day at that place; and
c. if the funeral takes place at any other place, for half a day at the place where the funeral takes place.
Special Instructions
1. On receipt of the intimation of the death of the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs will inform the Central Ministries and Departments, State Governments, etc. The All India Radio will also make an announcement. Heads of offices throughout India will arrange for closure of their offices as soon as intimation is received from the Ministry of Home Affairs or over the AIR, whichever is earlier.
2. If intimation of the death of the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister is received after office hours, Central Government offices will be closed throughout India on the following day if it is otherwise a working day.
3. If intimation of the death of the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister is received during office hours late in the afternoon, offices will be closed for rest of the day but if it is not possible to effect closure for more than three hours, Ministry of Home Affairs may issue instructions for closing the offices on the following day also if it is otherwise a working day.
4. In the event of the death of a Union Cabinet Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs will intimate the particular half day when offices at Delhi and at the place of the funeral may remain closed.
5. In the event of the death of a Union Minister of State or Deputy Minister, the concerned Ministry or Department will determine the particular half day when their offices may remain closed at Delhi and at the place of the funeral. The closure should be so adjusted to enable officers and staff of the Ministry or Department concerned to pay homage to the deceased or attend the funeral.
6. In the event of death of a Governor or Chief Minister of a State, the particular half day when the offices may remain closed will be determined by the Heads of local offices in consultation with the Chief Secretary of the State Government.
7. In the event of death of the President or Prime Minister, offices and industrial establishments of the Governments/Administrations of Union Territories will follow the above instructions. These offices need not be closed in the event of the death of the other Central dignitary.
8. In the event of the death of Administrator or Chief Minister or other Minister of a Union Territory, the Government/Administration of the Union Territory concerned may take its own decision regarding closure of its offices. Other Central Government offices in the Union Territories will not be closed on such occasions.