Breaking new ground in employee welfare, the Madras High Court has ruled that female staff must receive paid maternity leave for their third child, overturning restrictive administrative practices within its own ranks. The case originated from B. Mangaiyarkarasi’s denied leave application post her third delivery, leading to a petition that demanded justice.
Justices R. Suresh Kumar and Shmeem Ahmed’s bench scrutinized Tamil Nadu’s maternity leave framework, noting its failure to accommodate beyond two children. Citing authoritative Supreme Court decisions, the court declared such limitations untenable.
In a decisive order, the Registrar was instructed to grant the employee a complete year’s paid leave with full benefits. To eradicate recurrence, the bench required a binding circular to all judicial districts and directed the state Chief Secretary to enforce compliance across government departments.
This judgment aligns with the nation’s evolving stance on maternity protections, echoing prior High Court affirmations. It signals a shift toward comprehensive family support, challenging archaic rules that penalize larger families.
As the directive ripples outward, it promises broader access to essential leave, empowering women to balance career and motherhood without fear of penalty. Legal observers predict this could catalyze amendments in state labor codes, marking progress in gender-sensitive governance.