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Benefits under the Maternity Benefits Act must be extended to contractual workers, holds MP HC

The Madhya Pradesh High court has ruled that maternity leave should be granted to contractual employees at par with regular employees. In this case, the state was denying maternity leave relying on the contract of appointment which stated that maternity leave can be granted to contractual workers only upon the completion on one year of service. The judge noted that as per Section 27 of the Maternity Benefits Act, irrespective of the nature and tenure of employment, the employer is legally bound to provide all benefits and facilities which are required by a woman for childbirth.

Smt. Archana Pandey v. State of Madhya Pradesh, Writ Petition No. 15523 of 2016, [High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur]