The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that maternity leave is an essential component of a woman’s reproductive rights, thereby reinforcing the constitutional and human rights of working women.

• The Court set aside a Madras HC order that had denied maternity leave to a woman on the birth of her 3^rd child, based on the State’s policy limiting benefits to women with only 2 children. 

Key Highlights of Judgment 

• Reproductive Rights: Maternity leave is an integral part of maternity benefits and forms a core aspect of a woman’s reproductive rights.
• Constitutional Protection: A woman’s right to reproductive choices is protected under Article 21, as a part of personal liberty (Suchita Srivastava v. Chandigarh Administration case).
• Human Rights: Reproductive rights are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) & include the rights to health, privacy, dignity, and equality.
• Social Justice: The maternity leave law is designed to uphold social justice by supporting women's dual roles as mothers and workers, ensuring they can lead an autonomous & dignified life.
  • While population control is a valid policy objective, it cannot override fundamental reproductive rights. A rational balance must be struck to serve the broader goals of justice, equity, and welfare.