No maternity leave for fourth child: Allahabad HC denies UP govt employee's plea

Allahabad HC rejected Shashi Kumari’s maternity leave plea for her fourth child, ruling that service rules do not permit maternity leave for a fourth child.

The Allahabad high court has rejected a government employee’s plea for maternity leave, saying that she cannot be given leave for her fourth child under the rules.

The Allahabad high court clarifies that according to rules, the petitioner is not entitled to get any maternity leave for her fourth child. (HT_PRINT)

Justice Manju Rani Chauhan passed the order on August 7 on the plea by Shashi Kumari. The woman had challenged an order of June 19 passed by the Block Education Officer, Sambhal (Bheem Nagar), rejecting her claim for maternity leave.

Kumari also requested the high court to direct the authority concerned to grant the six months maternity leave under the law.

During the course of hearing, the state counsel opposed the writ petition on the ground that, according to rules, the petitioner is not entitled to get any maternity leave for her fourth child. Hence no interference is required and the writ petition is liable to be dismissed, the counsel argued.

Kumari’s counsel submitted that she did not avail any leave on the birth of her other three children and so she is now entitled to get the leave for the first time. Therefore, the order of the education officer is arbitrary. The state counsel submitted that Kumari already availed the maternity leave. Taking the statement on record, justice Chauhan said that no interference is required and dismissed the plea.