Madras HC Rules: Maternity Benefits Cannot Be Denied for a Third Pregnancy

Third Pregnancy Is No Bar to Maternity Benefits: A Landmark Ruling

In a powerful judgment that strengthens women’s rights at the workplace, the Madras High Court has ruled that maternity leave and benefits cannot be denied simply because it is a woman’s third pregnancy.

The ruling sends a clear message: maternity benefits exist to protect maternal health and dignity—not to regulate the number of children a woman chooses to have.

The Case That Sparked the Debate

The case centered on B. Ranjitha, a junior assistant at Ulundurpettai court, who sought maternity leave from August 18, 2025, to August 17, 2026. Her request was denied by a district judge on the grounds that it was her third confinement, as benefits were allegedly restricted to only two pregnancies.

Ranjitha challenged this decision in the High Court, calling it unfair and unconstitutional.

What the High Court Said

A division bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and Hemant Chandangoudar quashed the district court’s order, stating:

“Maternity leave is meant to support women during pre- and post-natal stages. To deny it because it is a third pregnancy lacks logic and is thoroughly unreasonable.”

This verdict restores Ranjitha’s right to maternity leave and benefits under service rules.

Legal Context: Supreme Court’s Precedent

The High Court’s stance is in line with a Supreme Court ruling (K. Umadevi vs Govt. of Tamil Nadu, May 2025), which affirmed that:

  • Maternity benefits are a part of reproductive rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.

  • State-imposed restrictions, like a “two-child norm,” cannot override the fundamental right to health and dignity.

Why This Matters

  1. Strengthening Women’s Rights – The judgment recognizes maternity leave as a health and welfare necessity, not a privilege.

  2. Policy Implications – It challenges discriminatory child-count caps in government and institutional rules.

  3. National Impact – The ruling may influence similar cases across India, reshaping how maternity leave is interpreted.

Final Word

This judgment is more than a legal win—it is a reaffirmation of women’s autonomy, dignity, and equality in the workplace. By clarifying that maternity benefits extend beyond the two-child limit, the Madras High Court has paved the way for a more inclusive and compassionate labor law framework in India.

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