Can an employer refuse to pay full salary & refuse rejoining after Maternity leave giving the reason of the COVID situation?

Hello, Can an employer refuse to pay full salary & refuse rejoining after Maternity leave giving the reason of the covid situation?

No employer can refuse maternity benefits to eligible employee and can not terminate
her services while on maternity leave.
Even if the woman employee commits some malpractices or indiscipline or gross misconduct,
during her services and then proceed to maternity leave, a legally compliant employer will have to await till her return and approves her rejoining. Only after her rejoining only, the company /employer shall take call on her malpractices and proceed with the same.

The employer can not refuse maternity benefits to eligible employee on any ground. The service of an employee can not be terminated once pregnancy confirmed to management or while on maternity leave. The refusal to pay for the period of maternity leave and to take back in job after Maternity leave is nothing but illegal. The aggrieved employee should take up the issue with the authority under government.