The Madras High Court has come down strongly against the rejection of maternity leave to a woman employee for her third pregnancy, calling the approach of the authorities “pedantic” and legally unsustainable. The court set aside an order of the High Court Registry that denied maternity benefits to its own staff member, reiterating that settled legal principles cannot be ignored through narrow interpretations.
Background of the Case
The case was filed by P. Mangaiyarkkarasi, an employee of the Madras High Court, after her request for maternity leave was rejected in December 2025. The Registry relied on a clarification issued by the Tamil Nadu government stating that the Fundamental Rules do not provide maternity leave for a third childbirth.
Following the rejection, Mangaiyarkkarasi was forced to use earned leave, medical leave, and unearned leave during her pregnancy and confinement period. She approached the High Court seeking quashing of the rejection order and restoration of full maternity benefits for one year, from August 8, 2025 to August 7, 2026.
Court’s Observations
The Division Bench of Justice R. Suresh Kumar and Justice Shamim Ahmed noted that the issue was no longer open for debate. The judges pointed out that earlier Division Bench rulings including one delivered in September 2025 had already allowed maternity leave for third pregnancies, relying on a Supreme Court judgment in Umadevi v. Government of Tamil Nadu.
Rejecting the Registry’s argument that earlier rulings applied only to individual petitioners, the bench observed,
“Such an interpretation cannot be appreciated. The principle laid down by the Supreme Court is a judgment in rem and not in personam.”
The court expressed clear displeasure that despite multiple similar orders, authorities continued to deny benefits by selectively relying on government letters while overlooking binding judicial precedents.
“This kind of pedantic approach being adopted by the officers concerned cannot be appreciated,” the bench remarked during the hearing.
Decision of the Court
Allowing the writ petition, the High Court quashed the rejection order dated December 15, 2025. The bench directed the respondents to grant Mangaiyarkkarasi maternity leave for the full period claimed, along with all attendant service and monetary benefits.
The court further ordered that necessary proceedings be completed within one week from the receipt of the judgment.
Importantly, to prevent repetition of similar disputes, the bench directed the Registrar General of the Madras High Court to circulate the judgment to all judicial officers across Tamil Nadu. A similar direction was issued to the Chief Secretary of the State, instructing strict compliance with the legal principles already laid down.
With these directions, the writ petition was allowed, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed, with no order as to costs.
Case Title: P. Mangaiyarkkarasi v. The Registrar General, High Court of Madras & Anr.
