Navigating Maternity Leave in West Bengal After Losing a Baby at 26 Days: Need Guidance

kamal-dutta
42 days for abortion or miscarriage...

But the baby expired after fighting for 26 days in the SNCU from delivery - neither abortion nor miscarriage.

In that case, how many days can one take maternity leave in the West Bengal government service?

Sir, please guide...
loginmiraclelogistics
I'm sorry and share your grief that your baby couldn't be saved despite your best efforts. Let me understand the position clearly:

You were pregnant and availed of Maternity Leave (if yes, from when to when?). You delivered the baby (either through normal or caesarean) and the baby expired suffering postnatal complications. I presume you exhausted the Maternity Leave available during pregnancy and after the delivery (i.e., 240 days). You wish to know if there is any special leave, over and above the Maternity Leave, available for child care. As you said, this is neither an abortion nor a miscarriage.

In order to study your case, please let us know about your employers, whether covered by WB Govt. service, ESIC, or the Maternity Benefit Act. The Maternity Benefit Act applies all over India, including WB, wherever there is no ESI coverage. In WB, in contrast to other states, special leave policies and rules are in vogue. I could see some of them, which are reproduced here, which might help you in this situation.

Child Care Leave for West Bengal State Govt. Employees

The government of West Bengal
Finance Department
Audit Branch
No. 1364-F(P) Dated: 15.02.2012

MEMORANDUM

Consequent upon the recommendation of the Fifth State Pay Commission for the introduction of 'Child Care Leave' in favor of female State Government Employees, the matter has been under consideration of the Government for some time past. After careful consideration of the matter, the undersigned is directed by the order of the Governor to say that Female Govt. Employees having minor children may be granted Child Care Leave (CCL) by an authority competent to grant leave, for a maximum period of two years (i.e., 730 days) during their entire service period for taking care of up to two children up to 18 years of their age, whether for rearing or to look after any of their needs like examination, sickness, etc., subject to the following conditions:

(i) During the period of such leave, the female employees shall be paid leave salary equal to the pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.
(ii) It may not be granted in more than 3 (three) spells in a calendar year.
(iii) It may not be granted for less than 15 days in a spell.
(iv) Child Care Leave shall not be debited against the leave account.
(v) It may be combined with leave of the kind due and admissible.
(vi) Child Care Leave should not ordinarily be granted during the probation period except in cases of certain extreme situations where the leave sanctioning authority is fully satisfied about the need for Child Care Leave to the probationer. It may also be ensured that the period for which such leave is sanctioned during probation is minimal.
(vii) Other terms and conditions as applicable to sanctioning Earned Leave shall be applicable in the matter of sanctioning Child Care Leave.
(viii) An account for the purpose shall have to be maintained under proper attestation by the leave sanctioning authority.

2. This order shall take effect from 1st January 2012.
3. Formal amendments in the relevant rules of the West Bengal Service Rules will be made in due course.

Sd/- A.K. Das
Joint Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal,
Finance Department.

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Child Adoption Leave - available, but not extracted here...
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Also see some more references attached, which are applicable to teaching and non-teaching staff of WB.
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kamal-dutta
I am covered under the West Bengal government service rules and I applied for maternity leave on 10/11/18. My baby was born on 12/11/18 but unfortunately passed away on 07/12/18.

Can I avail of 180 days of maternity leave starting from 10/11/18?
loginmiraclelogistics
Hi,

You are eligible to avail the full quota of maternity leave of 6 months as per the WB Rules. I hope you are continuing to be on maternity leave, and there is no necessity to cut short your leave and rejoin duty on the plea that the just-born child has since expired. No need to worry.

WB Leave rules are also attached for your ready reference. Take care. Please see the discussion on maternity leave in this link for your knowledge: [Maternity Leave Policy](https://www.citehr.com/100535-maternity-leave-policy-doc-download.html#389729).
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