JALANDHAR, October 22, 2026: Routine public services at several government offices in Jalandhar were disrupted on Thursday as employees continued their two-day mass casual leave in support of long-pending demands, leaving many residents unable to complete scheduled administrative work.
Employees across Punjab had announced collective leave for October 21 and 22 under a joint call by employee organisations. The agitation has affected several government departments, including offices responsible for administrative, revenue and public-service matters.
In Jalandhar, the impact was visible at the Deputy Commissioner’s office and other administrative branches, where reduced staff availability slowed or halted a number of routine services. People who arrived for documentation, revenue-related work and other official matters faced delays, with some having to return without completing their work.
Services connected with the Additional Deputy Commissioner, District Revenue Officer, SDM and tehsil offices were among those affected as employees participated in the statewide agitation.
The disruption also extended to transport-related administrative work. With employees associated with transport offices participating in the protest, applicants seeking services connected with driving licences, vehicles and other formalities faced delays.
The employee organisations are pressing the Punjab government over several pending demands, including the release of dearness allowance arrears and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme, along with other pay, service and employment-related issues.
Employees and pensioners also participated in demonstrations in Jalandhar as part of the agitation, maintaining that several of their demands have remained unresolved despite earlier representations and meetings with the government.
While the protest is aimed at putting pressure on the state government, its immediate impact has been felt by members of the public who depend on government offices for time-sensitive documentation and approvals.
Residents who had planned visits to government offices during the two-day period faced uncertainty over when their pending work would be completed. Services are expected to move towards normal functioning after the scheduled mass leave ends, subject to any further decision by employee organisations.
The situation has once again highlighted the direct effect that prolonged disputes between government employees and the administration can have on routine public services.
For many visitors, the concern is now less about the dispute itself and more about how quickly pending applications, documents and administrative matters can be processed once employees return to regular duty.
Further developments will depend on whether talks between employee representatives and the Punjab government result in progress on the demands raised during the agitation.
For permission to reuse our original reporting or images, contact The Jalandhar Times.
