Government offices, court, schools closed on Friday

LUCKNOW: The UP government has declared a holiday in government offices and educational institutions on Friday in memory of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who died on Thursday. The government announced a seven-day mourning during which the tricolour will fly at half mast as a mark of respect. CMYogi Adityanath said that ashes of the former PM will be immersed in the holy rivers of all the districts of the state.

The government also directed authorities of various districts associated with Vajpyee to organise condolence meetings. The meetings will be held at Atal’s ancestral village Bateshwar in Agra, Kanpur — where he pursued his education, Balrampur — from where he won his first Lok Sabha election, and Lucknow, from where he was elected MP five times.

The Allahabad high court, its Lucknow Bench, all district courts and subordinate courts shall also remain closed on August 17 due to the demise of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, informed Registrar General Faiz Alam.