Maternity Leave is Part of Reproductive Rights: Supreme Court
On 22nd May 2025, in landmark verdict, the Supreme Court (SC) of India, clarified that maternity benefits form an essential part of a woman’s reproductive rights, and cannot be restricted by arbitrary or discriminatory norms.
Background
- The case arose when Uma Devi, a government school teacher in Tamil Nadu, was denied maternity leave for her 2021–22 pregnancy on the ground that Rule 101(a) of the Tamil Nadu Fundamental Rules (“FR 101(a)”) restricts the benefit to women with “less than two surviving children.”
- A Single Judge of the Madras High Court granted relief; a Division Bench reversed.
SC’s Ruling
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content
Already a Member? Login here
Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material since 2018 of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Society Watch
- 1 Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
- 2 National-Level Sensitization Meeting on Strengthening PC&PNDT Act, 1994
- 3 Siddi Tribal Community
- 4 ‘We Rise’ Initiative: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
- 5 Ayushman Bharat and the Growing Grip of Private Healthcare
- 6 SC Forms Panel on Transgender Persons
- 7 National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme
- 8 Report on Vital Statistics of India - 2023
- 9 HEAL 2025
- 10 Model Youth Gram Sabha Initiative
