HC hails maternity leave for 3rd child, seeks report from TN | Madurai News
K.Kaushik
During the course of hearing, the state submitted that the govt has taken a policy decision to provide the third maternity leave to all eligible women govt employees.
Madurai: Appreciating Tamil Nadu govt’s policy decision to grant maternity leave for the third child to women govt employees, Madras high court on Wednesday directed the state to file a report as to whether any study was conducted before the decision was taken. It shall also explain as to how it would meet the vacancies arising out of employees’ maternity leave.The court was hearing the petition filed by A Suganthi Stella Mary who is working as a secondary grade teacher at panchayat union school in Konapatti in Sanarpatti union in Dindigul district. She moved court challenging the rejection orders passed by the authorities and sought to grant her maternity leave with full pay.During the course of hearing, the state submitted that the govt has taken a policy decision to provide the third maternity leave to all eligible women govt employees.Justice B Pugalendhi appreciated the policy, and said: “This is, in fact, a welcoming effort taken by the govt to encourage women to continue in service. But at the same time, the court expects a report from the govt as to whether any study has been conducted before taking this policy decision and as to how the govt is going to meet the vacancies arising out of these maternity leaves.”Citing the example of the judiciary, he said that out of the sanctioned/working strength, 10% of personal assistants to judges in the Madurai bench of the court were on maternity leave.The judge observed that the efficiency of the departments depends upon the available workforce and, therefore, the court expects a report from the govt as to the steps taken by them and as to the study conducted by them to meet out the exigencies arising out of these vacancies on maternity leave. It also sought a report on the percentage of vacancies in each department on maternity leave. The matter was posted on Sept 18 for filing of reports.
