Now Reading: Allahabad HC rejects maternity leave for fourth child to govt employee
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Allahabad HC rejects maternity leave for fourth child to govt employee
The Allahabad High Court on August 7 dismissed a plea by Sashi Kumari, a woman government employee in Uttar Pradesh, seeking six months' maternity leave for her fourth child. Justice Manju Rani…
The Story in Brief
The Allahabad High Court on August 7 dismissed a plea by Sashi Kumari, a woman government employee in Uttar Pradesh, seeking six months' maternity leave for her fourth child. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan upheld the state's rejection of her claim, citing provisions of the Financial Handbook that limit maternity leave to two occasions for women government employees.
The petitioner argued she had not taken leave for her first three children and was seeking it for the first time. The court, however, noted the handbook also bars leave when an employee has two or more living children. Barandbench reports the court also flagged that only typed copies of documents were filed, not photocopies, making verification difficult.
The Indian Opinion
Some may see this as the court being harsh on a woman, but the rule is clear: government employees are entitled to maternity leave only twice. The petitioner already has three living children. The court simply enforced the existing norm, not a new crackdown. Will the Uttar Pradesh government consider revising the two-occasion limit in line with modern family planning realities?
Sources (2): ndtv.com, barandbench.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
