Maternity Leave Is a Woman’s Fundamental Right: Supreme Court Upholds Landmark Madras HC Ruling

 

The Supreme Court has upheld a landmark decision of the Madras High Court, ruling that maternity leave is a fundamental right of working women, even if they have taken multiple spells of leave. The Court emphasized that childbirth is a natural process and women cannot be penalized for availing maternity benefits more than once.

 

The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging a Madras High Court verdict which had ruled in favor of a woman employee who had been denied maternity leave benefits for her second child. The employer had claimed that under Rule 101(2) of the Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rules, maternity leave was not permissible for a second surviving child.

 

However, both the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court ruled that maternity benefits should not be denied merely based on technical rules, especially when they contradict the intent of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, which protects the rights of working women to take paid leave for childbirth and childcare.

 

Key Observations:

• Maternity leave is not a privilege, but a statutory right.
• Government and private employers must adopt a humane and inclusive approach while granting maternity benefits.
• Women with more than two children cannot be deprived of their right to health, dignity, and care during pregnancy and postpartum.
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The Court reaffirmed that any service rule that limits maternity benefits in violation of central legislation is arbitrary and unenforceable. The verdict sets an important precedent for ensuring gender equity in workplaces and upholding women’s constitutional rights.