BBMP chief warns of prosecuting CEOs of IT, BT companies refusing to declare holiday for polling

BENGALURU: After several complaints from techies in infpormation-technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT) sectors of Bengaluru about companies refusing to declare holiday to facilitate voting among their employees, Bengaluru district electoral officer Tushar Giri Nath has warned of booking the CEOs of the companies if any company fails to declare a public holiday on May 10 (Wednesday) on account of polling to the state assembly.
Confirming the decision to TOI, Tushar Giri Nath, who is also the chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said that many software and biotech engineers have complained to the district administration about the restrictions imposed by the companies.
“Some companies have reportedly told their employees that they have to come back to duty and a few others have asked employees to work on shifts. However, not all employees will be voters in Bengaluru and many will be voting in other districts as well. These arrangements eventually affect the spirit of voting as the employees turn away from voting,” the BBMP chief said.
Tushar clarified that the state government, through official notification, has declared paid holiday to all the government and private establishments across Karnataka.
“In spite of the notification on paid holiday, if any company or industry refuses to declare a paid holiday to the employees for voting and travel to their natives for purpose of voting, CEOs and managements of such companies will be prosecuted under the provisions of the People Representation Act,” the chief commissioner said.