Concern over move to reduce work days of government offices

Concerns have been raised over the government’s move to reduce the number of working days of government offices to five a week. It is feared that the decision would make it harder for the public to access administrative services.

National Janata Dal district leader K.U. Irshad described the move irrational. He warned that it could trigger public resentment at a time when people were already forced to make repeated visits to offices even for minor matters.

He said that in institutions such as village offices, panchayats, taluk offices and collectorates, people often have to wait for days to complete procedures related to certificates, land records, welfare scheme applications and pension processing.

The situation in courts is also worrying, he said, pointing to a large backlog of cases, including many that have been pending for years in consumer and family courts.

“When procedures cannot be completed on time even with six working days a week, reducing working days will only push people into greater hardship,” said Mr. Irshad.

He noted that despite the widespread introduction of digital services, problems such as delays in file movement, unnecessary procedural complexities and unequal access to services continued to persist.

Any move to cut working days would send a wrong message to society, he said. “Priority should instead be given to improving the quality and efficiency of public services,” he said. Mr. Irshad demanded that the government reconsider its decision.