Allahabad High Court Issues Contempt Notice to Horticulture Director Over Denial of Maternity Leave

The Allahabad High Court has issued a contempt notice to the Director, Horticulture and Food Processing Department, Uttar Pradesh, for once again rejecting a woman employee's maternity leave request on the grounds of a two-year gap between pregnancies.

Justice Ajit Kumar noted that the Court had already struck down this requirement in Guddi v. State of U.P (2022) and reiterated the same in earlier orders quashing similar rejections.

Calling the Director's conduct "unfortunate" and in clear contempt of binding directions, the Court ordered him to appear in person on September 1 to explain why contempt proceedings should not follow.