Following criticism, Kerala GST and customs officials lifted their Eid leave prohibition.

Employees were concerned about the change, particularly those who wanted to celebrate Eid with their families.

The Office of the Chief Commissioner of Central Tax, Central Excise, and Customs in Thiruvananthapuram recently issued a directive stating that all officers and staff in Kerala were to report to work on March 29 (Saturday), 30 (Sunday), and 31 (Monday), which coincided with Eid celebrations. 

According to the order, supervisory officers were not allowed to grant leave or permissions during these dates, thereby denying even Muslim employees the chance to take time off for Eid festivities. Kerala was the only region in the nation to issue such an office order.

Following a circular sent to all principal chief commissioners and chief commissioners of CGST nationally by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which said that these three days will be working days, this decision was made. The Kerala direction is very strict because the CBIC's circular did not state that no one could take leave.

Employees were alarmed by the decision, particularly those who wanted to celebrate Eid with their families. 

But in a major turnaround, the CBIC issued another decision at approximately 8:45 AM on March 29 to specify that the previous directive restricting leave should be regarded as canceled. Additionally, the part of the order that said, "the Supervisory Officers may not grant any leave or permission to the officers on the abovementioned days," could be deemed canceled, the order said.

This reversal followed a great deal of criticism.


John Brittas, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has voiced "grave concern" about the decision. Brittas called the general ban "deeply unjustified" and called for prompt remedial measures in a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.  He underlined that restricting holidays for legitimate religious duties places an excessive burden on workers and that religious freedom and the right to celebrate important holidays are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Brittas went on to point out that this kind of approach could make the impacted officers feel alienated and that it went against the center's notified holiday list, which would undermine the rules governing the observance of gazetted holidays.