The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday sought response from the State government to a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the government to formulate and enforce a uniform policy guaranteeing a mandatory two-day weekly off for all categories of public and private sector workers across the State.
A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel was hearing the petition filed by S. Bhaskar of Batlagundu in Dindigul district. The petitioner said forcing lakhs of employees in the public and the private sector to work six days a week affected their fundamental rights and health.
He said government employees enjoyed a structured five-day work week with a mandatory two-day weekly off. In contrast, lakhs of employees in the private sector were forced to work six days a week often exceeding 10 to 12 hours daily causing severe physical and mental burnout.
He said he has scientifically analysed and designed a ‘Rotational Labour Sharing Model’ which would create a structural workforce. He sought a direction to the State government to constitute a High-Level Expert Committee comprising industrial, finance, and management experts to examine the feasibility of the ‘Rotational Labour Sharing Model’.
He also sought a direction to the authorities to launch a Pilot Project implementing the mandatory two-day rotational weekly off in major industrial hubs. The court posted the matter for hearing to October 7.
Published – August 10, 2026 10:05 pm IST
