Hyderabad: The Telangana government allowed shops and establishments across the state to remain open till 5 am during Ramzan, granting temporary exemptions under the law.
Issuing orders on Tuesday, February 17, Telangana Labour Commissioner M Dana Kishore permitted extended business hours from February 19 to March 20. The decision enabled commercial establishments to function until Sehri time during the holy month.
The order stated that all shops and establishments were exempted from Sections 7(1), 12(1) and 31(1) of the Telangana Shops and Establishment Act, 1988 for the specified period. As a result, Telangana Ramzan shop hours were formally extended beyond the standard government-fixed timings.
Section 7(1) of the Act restricted shops from opening earlier or closing later than the hours prescribed by the government. Meanwhile, Sections 12(1) and 31(1) dealt with employee holidays and regulated working hours.
With the exemptions in place, Telangana Ramzan shop hours allowed traders to operate late into the night. However, authorities attached strict labour safeguards to the relaxation.
Telangana Ramzan shop hours subject to wage safeguards
The Commissioner directed employers to pay overtime wages at twice the ordinary rate to employees who worked beyond regular hours. This condition applied throughout the exemption period.
In addition, workers who performed duties on holidays had to be granted a compensatory holiday. The order made it clear that businesses could not deny this entitlement.
Employees were also barred from working more than 13 hours on any given day, including Sundays. Therefore, even with the Telangana Ramzan shop hours extension, daily work duration remained capped.
Officials stressed that the relaxation aimed to facilitate business activity during Ramzan while protecting labour rights. Consequently, employers were instructed to strictly adhere to all wage and hour provisions.
The order further clarified that female employees were exempt from the extended work hours. No female employee could be permitted to work after 8:30 pm under any circumstances.
This restriction remained in force despite the broader Telangana Ramzan shop hours relaxation. Authorities reiterated that safety and welfare norms would not be diluted.
Telangana Ramzan shop hours aligned with Sehri timing
The extended hours were specifically intended to accommodate Sehri time, which precedes the daily fast during Ramzan. As such, shops could legally remain open until 5 am during the notified period.
The exemption covered all categories of shops and establishments governed by the Act. However, compliance with wage payments and compensatory leave rules was mandatory.
Labour department officials indicated that inspections could be conducted to ensure adherence to the conditions. Any violation of overtime payment or hour limits could attract action under existing provisions.
The Telangana Ramzan shop hours decision followed similar relaxations granted in previous years during the festival season. Nevertheless, each year’s exemption required a fresh notification from the competent authority.
By formally invoking statutory exemptions, the department ensured that businesses could cater to increased nighttime demand during Ramzan. At the same time, it maintained legal clarity regarding employee rights.
The notification remained valid only between February 19 and March 20. After that date, standard operating hours prescribed under the Act would automatically resume.
Through this move, Telangana Ramzan shop hours were temporarily aligned with the religious and commercial needs of the month, while statutory labour protections continued to apply.