Chandigarh: The Haryana government has announced that Eid-ul-Fitr, falling on March 31, will be observed as a restricted holiday (Schedule-II) instead of a gazetted holiday. The decision, made public on March 27, has been justified by the state citing the financial year’s closing as a key factor.
The government notification stated, “In partial modification of the Government Notification issued vide even number dated 26.12.2024, it is notified that Eid-ul-Fitr, i.e., 31st March 2025, shall be observed as a Restricted Holiday (Schedule-II) instead of a Gazetted Holiday, due to the fact that 29th and 30th March 2025 are weekend off days and 31st March being the closing day of the Financial Year 2024-2025.”
The decision has been taken to ensure that government offices remain functional for completing essential financial transactions before the fiscal year ends. The Income Tax Department has also announced that its offices across the country will remain open from March 29 to March 31 to assist taxpayers in finalizing pending financial matters.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued an order stating, “To facilitate completion of pending departmental work, all the Income Tax Offices throughout India shall remain open on 29th, 30th, and 31st March 2025.”
As March 31 is the last day of the financial year, all government payments, settlements, and filings of updated Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the assessment year 2023-24 must be completed by the deadline.
To accommodate taxpayers, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks handling government transactions to remain operational on March 31. The central bank has also arranged for special clearing operations to ensure that government receipts and payments are accounted for within the current fiscal year.
“In order to facilitate accounting of government receipts and payments in the current financial year itself, necessary arrangements have also been made to conduct special clearing operations across the country,” the RBI stated.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some welcoming the move as a practical step to ensure smooth financial operations, while others argue that it undermines the significance of Eid-ul-Fitr as a religious occasion.
