Delhi HC Rules Women Must Get Same Role Back After Maternity Leave
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
The Delhi High Court ruled on Monday that women returning from maternity leave must be reinstated to the same position they held before proceeding on leave. A bench of Justice Sachin Datta held that if the original post is unavailable for genuine organisational reasons, the woman must be offered an equivalent role with matching pay, grade, status, responsibilities and career prospects. The court directed the Centre to frame rules within six months under the Code on Social Security covering post-maternity reinstatement, lactation support, creche disclosure and grievance redressal timelines, in consultation with state governments and industry bodies. The ruling arose from a petition by a woman chartered accountant hired by a private company in 2022 whose responsibilities were altered after she disclosed her pregnancy in May 2023 and who was moved to an unrelated treasury role on her return. She has sought reinstatement to her original position, ₹50 lakh in compensation for alleged mental
Why it matters
The ruling sets a binding precedent for private-sector employers across India on maternity reinstatement and gives the Centre six months to draft enforceable rules covering creche norms, lactation support and complaint timelines. Working women in corporate and private-sector jobs stand to gain stronger legal protection against post-maternity demotion or reassignment.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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