Hyderabad, February 17 The Telangana government issued an order on Tuesday, allowing Muslim employees to leave their offices an hour early at 4 PM during Ramadan to offer prayers, except when their presence is required due to urgent service needs.
"The government hereby permits all government Muslim employees/teachers/contract/outsourcing/Boards/Corporations and public sector employees in the state to leave their offices/schools at 4 PM during the Holy Month of 'Ramadan', i.e., from February 19, 2026, to March 20, 2026, to offer necessary prayers," said a memo issued by Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao.
Meanwhile, in a separate communication issued three days ago, the state education department directed officials to change the school timings to 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM in Urdu-medium schools during Ramadan.
Although permission for employees to leave early is given every year, it sparked controversy last year, with Union MoS (Home) Bandi Sanjay Kumar and other BJP leaders questioning why such exemptions are not given to Hindu devotees who take the 'Ayyappa Deeksha' (41-day vow of devotion to Lord Ayyappa) and others.
Devotees of Ayyappa find it difficult to observe the 'Deeksha' requirements because they also have to fulfill their work responsibilities, Kumar had said.