Off days, Public holidays is not cessation of work due to any fault of the employee concerned.
As part of the management of an establishment, the employer himself either in compliance with the Standing Orders or a statutory duty imposed upon him, in relation to the establishment in which the employee concerned is rendering service has to observe certain number of days as public holidays and Sundays. The Establishment itself cannot work or even if it works, the same employees cannot be employed on those days. In such cases the holidays are staggered and other employees are employed to do the work. For whatever reason it may be, the cessation of work by the individual cannot be termed as one due to any fault of the employee. Hence cessation of work of the respondent employees on Sunday and other Public Holidays during a year satisfied the inclusive definition of "continuous service".