Hyderabad: Software companies in Hyderabad have refused to announce a paid holiday on April 11, Lok Sabha election day in Telangana and MP/ Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh. Employees in IT and ITeS companies are demanding for a paid holiday to cast their votes on Thursday.

On behalf of IT/ ITeS employees, Forum of IT Employees (FITE) has submitted a memorandum to Rajat Kumar, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and requested him to give a clarification on this.

“As per Indian constitution, election day should be a paid holiday. Several IF companies in Hyderabad are violating this constitutional right for voters under IPC Section 135B. During the last elections also, we fought for the same cause. The EC in last minute action, directed the IT companies to send their employees to cast their votes. Every time, companies are violating the constitution, and we’re fighting for it. There should be a common practice for all the IT companies for declaring a paid holiday on Election Day. Few IT companies have declared a paid holiday, while people on support projects are forced to work in shifts. Several employees in software companies need to go to Andhra Pradesh to cast their votes. They’re denied a paid holiday,” said a representative from FITE.

Responding to the plea by FITE, Telangana IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan said that the state government has already issued orders to IT companies to declare a paid holiday on Thursday. So that, migrant IT employees can travel to their home state to exercise their voting right.”

More than 24 lakh voters are registered in Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, which covers IT hubs in Hyderabad.