Denying Maternity Leave To Contractual Employee Violates Article 14: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that refusing maternity leave to a contractual employee breaches Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.

Justice Aman Chaudhary said the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 protects all working women, and discrimination based on employment type: regular or contractual, is unconstitutional.

The case involved a clinic assistant whose request to rejoin after childbirth was rejected. Citing Supreme Court precedents, the Court affirmed that maternity benefits extend to contractual and fixed-term workers.

The rejection letter was quashed, ensuring her right to equal protection and full maternity benefits.

[Harpreet Kaur v. State of Punjab and Others]