Govt, pvt cos should give paid holiday to employees on May 16

Election Commission of India today made it clear that the government and private establishments, including IT firms should provide a day's paid holiday to employees on May 16 to enable them cast their vote for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
"All private companies, IT firms and government offices should give paid holiday to their employees on polling day of May 16," state Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said since they were being provided a day's holiday, working professionals should vow to vote witout fail on May 16.
In the last Assembly polls, the EC had received many complaints from workers in government and private firms that their companies had refused them leave to exercise their franchise.

In a seperate release, the EC said officials had seized Rs 1,00,22,430 on March 18 from different parts of the state, including Rs 74.50 lakh at Thoothukudi.
The monies were being carried without any proper supporting documents, the EC said in a release.
Further, Rs 71,000 worth accessories like cookers and non-stick kadai were seized in Tiruchirappally, it added.
As of March 21, 2016, a total of 887 and 208 cases had been filed for damaging public and private property, respectively, it said.