No Leave for UP Field Officials Till Nov-End Over Ayodhya Verdict

Officials considered to be on field duties are civil and police officers posted at the district and lower levels.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday, 16 October, issued an order saying officials on "field duty" will not be granted leave till 30 November, attributing its decision to the festival season and security concerns ahead of the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict.

The instructions came on the last day of the Supreme Court hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case. The judgment in the matter is to be pronounced by 17 November.

While an earlier official order stated that the decision was related to the festival season, a fresh note said the Ayodhya verdict was also a concern.

Officials considered to be on field duties include civil and police officers posted at the district and lower levels.

Special Secretary Home R P Singh, in a letter to the UP DGP, said that keeping in mind festivals and expected verdict of the Supreme Court on Ayodhya issue no leave, except in unavoidable situations, of officers and employees in field duty should be sanctioned till November end.

It should also be ensured that they remain present in their respective headquarters till the given date, the order said.

Section 144 in Ayodhya Till 10 December

The Uttar Pradesh administration earlier in October imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in Ayodhya till 10 December ahead of the Supreme Court order in the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case.

Section 144 prohibits assembly of four or more people and empowers police to book people for rioting.

District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told PTI that the order also restricts drones, unmanned aerial vehicle for filming and shooting inside Ayodhya. The sale and purchase of crackers will not be allowed on the occasion of Diwali without permission of the magistrate.

The administration has also demanded a large number of security forces to maintain law and order and communal harmony.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday concluded hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in Ayodhya and reserved the judgement. The bench heard for 40 days the arguments of the Hindu and the Muslim sides.

(With inputs from PTI)