JODHPUR/JAIPUR, Oct. 3 -- The Rajasthan high court has called for an appropriate transfer policy or legislation to deal with cases of women government employees who have recently delivered and are caring for infant children, observing that the absence of such a policy causes grave hardship to both mother and infant. Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand observed that it appeared that the government had not formulated any policy on the issue. "It is high time for the Government to bring appropriate Transfer Policy/Legislation in this regard to deal with such kind of exigencies of female Government employees who have recently delivered and are having infant child in lap," the court said. The bench directed its registry to forward a copy of the order to the Union ministry of law and justice and the principal secretary, department of law and legal affairs, Rajasthan, for such action as they may deem fit in the matter. The observations came while dealing with a petition filed by Suman Meena, a senior teacher posted at PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Gangapur City. She had challenged her transfer to Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Masalpur, Karauli and the Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal's order rejecting her appeal against the transfer. Meena had given birth to a child on May 13, 2026, about two months before the transfer order. Her counsel submitted that the infant was dependent on her for breastfeeding and constant care. The bench also noted that she had earlier been denied maternity leave on the ground that she had already availed it twice. During the first of those earlier periods, she had given birth to a child who died soon after birth. The bench said that while transfer is ordinarily an incident of service and courts generally do not interfere, "the exigency of service is not an absolute shield." It said an exception arises where a transfer causes extreme hardship, including in cases involving the critical needs of an infant child. "When an infant is involved, the legal lens shifts from administrative efficiency to the best interests of the child. The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration of the Court," the bench observed in its order on Tuesday. The bench observed that, as far as possible, a woman employee with an infant below one year should not be disturbed and her case should be considered sympathetically. It said the right of a newly born infant to motherly care, nutrition and development is implicit in Articles 21 and 15(3) of the Constitution and is also protected under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The bench said the relationship between a mother and her two-month-old infant is not merely biological but a fundamental, natural and constitutional right of highest pedestal. It also stressed the importance of the initial months, including exclusive breastfeeding, for the physical, mental and emotional development of the child. On the individual plea, the bench directed the competent authority to consider Meena's fresh representation with a humane approach, keeping the welfare, nutrition, health and emotional bonding of the infant with the mother as paramount considerations. Until the representation is decided, the Court stayed the operation of her transfer order for six weeks and allowed her to continue at her present place of posting....