Panaji, March 14 (PTI): The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has expressed displeasure over the State Government’s move to declare a public holiday on March 18 for Zilla Panchayat elections.

Registering its protest, GCCI said there should be no holiday for local body elections to avoid loss of production and business.

“Government has announced March 18 as a public holiday due to Zilla Panchayat polls. The chamber has repeatedly brought to the notice of the government that such holidays for local body elections should not be declared so as to avoid loss of production and business,” GCCI Secretary General R S Kamat said in a statement here.

GCCI observed that such holidays are being routinely declared without any application of mind which is detrimental to the industry. Also, such notifications disrupt the harmony between the management and the workforce, Kamat said.

GCCI has, however, advised all industries and commercial establishments in private sectors to allow adequate time off to all bonafide voters employed by them to enable them to exercise their franchise.

Kamat said the government’s notification declaring public holiday was issued under explanation to section 25 of Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 (Act 26 of 1881) read with the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated June 28, 1973.

He said the explanation to section 25 of Negotiable Instruments Act, does not empower the government to declare public holidays to industrial and commercial establishments in the private sector.