John Dayal and Another vs Union of India and Another

Pradeep Nandrajog, J.—Writ petition and application seeking stay be registered upon objections; if any raised being removed. Learned counsel as above appears for the respondents on advance copy being served.

Having heard learned counsel for the parties, keeping in view the importance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday which fall on March 29, 2013 and March 31, 2013, and the requirement of the revenue, a balance has to be struck between faith and economy.

While listing the writ petition for hearing on April 02, 2013 before the Roster Bench, the respondents are directed that such persons who profess Christian faith and are desirous of either being sanctioned full leave on both days or permission to pay at the Church for a limited duration on either day would be sanctioned leave or permission to leave office to visit the Church at a short duration, keeping in view that those professing Christian faith would be a miniscule number working in such offices/departments of the Central Government where revenue is generated. In case leave/permission is to be denied, the same would be strictly upon the condition of extreme emergency of duty, and reason for the same with reference to the facts would be communicated to the employee concerned. Leave or permission should be approved latest by 10:00 A.M. on March 28, 2013. Dasti.