NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday declared a seven-day state mourning as well state funeral for former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal here. However, only a half-day holiday in Central government offices on the day of the funeral was declared, largely on account of 1997 Central government notification that restricts declaration of public holiday only in the event of the death of the sitting Prime Minister or President.

Vajpayee will be cremated with full state honours at Smriti Sthal, which is located between Shanti Van and Vijay Ghat. As a mark of respect to the departed leader, there shall be seven-day mourning from August 16 to 22 (both days included). The national flag will be flown at half mast throughout the country and in Indian missions abroad and there shall be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.

The government refrained from declaring a public holiday on Friday in view of a 1997 notification accepting a recommendation of the Fifth Pay Commission to restrict public holidays, including in the event of death of a dignitary unless such dignitary is the sitting Prime Minister or President. This rule has been religiously enforced since, with no full-day public holiday declared in Central government offices following the deaths of former Presidents K R Narayanan, A P J Abdul Kalam and S D Sharma or that of former Prime Ministers V P Singh, P V Narasimha Rao and Chandrasekhar. Instead, the half-day holiday in Central government officers on the day of the funeral has been the norm each time the departed dignitary has been laid to rest in the national Capital.

The state governments, however, are free to declare a public holiday in their respective jurisdictions.

All offices of Central government and Central public sector undertakings across the country and Delhi government offices in NCT of Delhi will be closed on Friday afternoon, enabling government employees to attend the funeral likely to be held around 4 pm.



In Video: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away at the age of 93