The Allahabad high court dismissed a writ petition filed by a woman government employee seeking maternity leave for her fourth child, ruling that she is not entitled to the benefit.
During the hearing, the state counsel opposed the request, arguing that under existing rules, the petitioner is not eligible for maternity leave for a fourth child. Consequently, the state argued that no judicial interference was warranted and the petition should be dismissed.
Taking the state counsel’s submission on record, justice Manju Rani Chauhan stated that there were no grounds for judicial interference. Accordingly, the court dismissed the petition in its judgment dated August 7.
The petitioner, Shashi Kumari, a state government employee, had challenged an order dated June 19, 2026, passed by the block education officer, Sambhal (Bheem Nagar), which rejected her claim for maternity leave for her fourth child. She had also requested the court to direct the relevant authorities to grant her six months of maternity leave as per the law.
Counsel for the petitioner argued that because she had not availed of maternity leave during the births of her previous three children, she was entitled to the benefit for the fourth. The counsel contended that the impugned order was arbitrary and legally invalid.
{{/usCountry}}Counsel for the petitioner argued that because she had not availed of maternity leave during the births of her previous three children, she was entitled to the benefit for the fourth. The counsel contended that the impugned order was arbitrary and legally invalid.
{{/usCountry}}Conversely, emphasising an averment made in the writ petition, the state counsel submitted that the petitioner had already availed of maternity leave.