The Andhra Pradesh Minority Welfare Department has issued a circular granting Muslim government employees permission to leave their offices or schools an hour earlier during Ramadan 2025. The directive will be in effect from March 2 to March 30, 2025.
This move follows a representation from the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board and instructions from the General Administration Department. The circular outlines several other measures to facilitate the smooth observance of Ramadan across the state.
In the guidelines, Panchayat Raj authorities are instructed to ensure proper sanitation, adhere to safety standards, and take necessary precautions to safeguard public health during the Ramzan month. Additionally, uninterrupted water and electricity supplies will be provided to mosques, prayer halls, and Muslim neighborhoods, ensuring a seamless experience for worshippers.
Further instructions include allowing extended business hours for shops, vegetable markets, and hotels on auspicious nights and during the early morning pre-dawn meal (Sahari) hours, a move aimed at facilitating community needs during Ramadan. Local police authorities have been directed to ensure the implementation of this order.
In terms of religious observances, the circular stresses the importance of ensuring that mosques are adequately equipped to accommodate worshippers. District administrations are tasked with coordinating efforts to ensure that there are no complaints regarding arrangements in mosques and that religious observances take place smoothly and without disruption.
In a similar move, the Telangana government has also issued a circular granting early exit for Muslim government employees during Ramadan 2025.
