Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 6: Sasikanth Senthil, deputy commissioner (DC) of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district has ordered the deputy directors of Pre-University Education Department and Public Education Department to declare holiday for all the educational institutions on September 8, which is celebrated as the birthday of Mother Mary as well as the harvest festival by Roman Catholics of the district of DK.

The circular sent to the deputy directors of education by the DC says "Coastal Christian community is celebrating September 8 as a special day since time immemorial. The appeal made by the president, office bearers and all the members of the Catholic Sabha Mangaluru (R), Bishop's House, Kodialbail, to declare this day as a government holiday, is sent to the honourable chief minister for further action,"

Catholic Sabha members with petition to CM

"As a continuation of this request, several demands are being received that are made by public and students to declare September 8 as a public holiday on account of the harvest festival as well as the birthday of Mother Mary. It is noted that some educational institutions are declaring September 8 as a holiday using their discretionary powers. Declaring of a holiday by some and not by other educational institute constitutes to discrimination to the students who are studying in the institutions which do not declare a holiday on this day and it also becomes an obstacle for such students to celebrate this traditional festival. So it would be appropriate to give a uniform direction in this regard,"

"Accordingly, you have informed that the educational institutions and schools have the discretionary power to declare four days of holidays every year, depending upon local and situational needs. You have also mentioned that the respective colleges and schools are declaring holidays under this provision as per the demands of the locals and necessary situations,"

"Therefore, you are hereby informed to declare September 8 of this year as a holiday for all the related educational institutions and schools, considering the demand and the right under the discretionary power of declaring four days of holidays as per the local demand."

Daijiworld spoke to some school managements to know whether they are declaring holiday or not on September 8. Some said they have already exhausted the 4 discretionary holidays. Some said, as the circular has been just received, they will look into the matter very soon.

A headmaster of a school said that some institutions have already declared holiday for September 8. “But some of the institutions who did not plan to declare holiday, will not be able to do so as they may have already drafted the plans for the year. In any case, no institution is compelled to declare holiday,” he said.

Some of the school managements said that the situation created at the last minute is confusing. They have not understood the circular properly, they said.