Ramzan relief or religious bias? Telangana work-hour order ignites political storm

Hyderabad: A decision by the Telangana government to allow Muslim employees to leave offices an hour early during Ramzan has triggered a political debate between the ruling Congress administration and the BJP.

What the government announced

The Government of Telangana has permitted Muslim employees working in state departments to leave offices at 4 pm during the holy month of Ramzan.

According to a memo issued by Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, the relaxation will be effective from February 19 to March 20, 2026, except in cases of service exigencies.

The order applies to government employees, teachers, contract and outsourcing staff, as well as personnel working in boards, corporations and public sector undertakings.

The government said the move is intended to facilitate fasting employees in offering evening prayers and breaking their fast on time.

Changes in school timings

In a separate communication, the state education department revised timings for Urdu medium schools. During Ramzan, classes will be conducted from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm to support students observing the fast.

The early-leave provision has been implemented in previous years as well and is described by officials as a recurring administrative measure during Ramzan.

BJP raises objections

The decision has drawn criticism from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar and other BJP leaders questioned why similar concessions are not extended to Hindu devotees observing the 41-day Ayyappa Deeksha or during other fasting periods.

They have argued that the government should ensure equal treatment for all communities.

Government’s response

The state government has defended the decision as a temporary administrative facilitation aimed at helping employees balance religious observance with official duties. It maintains that such measures have been part of established practice and are not unprecedented.

The development has once again placed religious accommodations in public administration at the centre of political debate in Telangana, with opposing parties framing the issue differently in the run-up to upcoming political engagements.

However, supporters of the government’s decision contend that drawing equivalence between different religious observances without examining administrative precedent oversimplifies the issue. They note that Ramzan involves daily fasting from dawn to dusk for a defined lunar month, which may require adjustments to work schedules in some cases. They also point out that similar concessions have been granted in earlier administrations, including under different political leaderships, suggesting continuity rather than a new policy shift.