India-Pakistan tensions: Gujarat government cancels all leaves of employees with immediate effect

Indian Express

09-05-2025

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Gujarat government on Friday cancelled leaves of all departments with immediate effect and instructed the employees not to leave the headquarters without obtaining prior permission from the department head.
Announcing the cancellation of leaves, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated, 'In view of the prevailing situation, all types of leaves for officers and employees of all departments and offices of the state government, as well as Boards, Corporations, Panchayats, Municipal Corporations, and autonomous and grant-in-aid institutions, have been cancelled with immediate effect.'
Further, instructions have been issued to the heads of the respective departments or offices to ensure that officers and employees currently on leave report back to duty with immediate effect.
'Additionally, officers and employees have been instructed not to leave headquarters without prior approval from the head of the department,' the order issued by the General Administration Department stated.
There will be a ban on flying drones in the state for the next 96 hours (four days) and bursting of loud crackers till May 15, declared the Gujarat government on Friday.
Sending out this prohibitory order on X, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi sought cooperation from people in following the guidelines.
Strict legal action will be taken against any person or organisation violating this decision taken for security and peace, said DGP Vikas Sahay.
As per the order issued by DGP Sahay, District Collectors and the Police Commissioners concerned have been instructed to issue necessary notifications to impose a complete ban on flying drones across the state for the next 96 hours and on bursting loud crackers till May 15.
'Loud crackers can create fear and suspicion in the minds of the people, which is not necessary in the current circumstances. To stop such acts, instructions have been given to issue necessary notifications regarding the ban on bursting of all types of loud crackers. Along with this, the use of UAV/drone by any government or private organisation or person has been banned for the next 96 hours (4 days),' the order stated.
Principal Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies R C Meena said that the state government has instructed every district collector to ensure that essential commodities are easily available to the citizens, and that prices are under control.
For this, the prices of 38 essential commodities are continuously being controlled and monitored by the state government and each district collector on a daily basis. All vendors, retailers, processors, millers and importers have been specifically urged to follow the necessary legal rules to prevent stockpiling or hoarding of essential commodities.
If any person or organisation is found involved in such activities, strict action will be taken against them by the District Collectors under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Principal Secretary said.
The state government has requested citizens not to be misled by any kind of rumours and to fully cooperate with the state government and the district administration with trust.
Given its unique position as the only state in India to share a land as well as a sea border with Pakistan, Gujarat has been undertaking a series of measures to ramp up security in light of escalating tensions between the two countries.