Goa, Aug. 5 -- The Allahabad High Court has reaffirmed that maternity leave is a statutory right that cannot be curtailed by executive instructions, setting aside an order that denied a government employee 180 days of maternity leave. The ruling underscores that the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 prevail over conflicting administrative rules contained in the Financial Handbook.

The case involved Manisha Yadav, a Junior Assistant at a Government Polytechnic in Barabanki, who had applied for maternity leave from April 6 to October 2, 2026. Her request was rejected solely on the basis of Rule 153(1) of the Financial Handbook, prompting her to approach the High Court.

Hearing the matter, Justice Karunesh Singh Pawar observed ...