The matter is of one many important provisions of law, persons in HR field should know with an analytical approach in order to appreciate the realty vis-à-vis implementation of one’s own HR policy, the Maternity Act and general health of the women involved. No one will have any doubt in agreeing women folks are the most affected human in a pragnancy, pre-natal and post natal and there after. And any restrictions, curtailment in passing on Maternity benefits to her naturally affect her very badly whatsoever the basis for imposing such curtailments. There are more than one factor/arises in implementing the restrictions and curtailments, they are which are to be read w.r.t. provisions of MA & ESI Act –
1. What are the norms and how they account for restrictions vis-a-vis the Laws
2. Is it on No.of confinements or on No.of children she bears/delivers
3. Is it limited to the payment of maternity benefits only or other important provisions with regard to Maternity leave, child care relaxations, fighting malnourishment, health of the mother and
4. her relevance in bringing up the surviving children
5. and job security of the mother in certain specified employments /establishments so on
I wish to quote /refer the Judgment of the Madras High Court (2009) in the matter of extending Maternity Benefits passed by Learned Mr. Justice (Rtd) K. Chandru, (whom I admire most as the one of very few judges of our generation who meant Justice and it should also be speedy) who had touched upon many relevant provisions from various Acts in this judgment. I failed to cullout some of his views to fit them here in order to make this short, but every word of his found to be apt and hence his shorter version of judgment is attached for our members to appreciate his views in the matter. Further I also extracted and quote here relevent portions from another judgment of the SC (though related to woman casual labour) …..
Going by these references I only wish to say it’s not justifiable to discriminate woman folks based on the status of employment or on No.of confinements & children, or place of posting etc. in the matter of extending Maternity benefits including grant of leave and monetary issues, post natal difficulties, child & mother care etc.