Shashi Kumari, a government school employee from Sambhal district, went to the Allahabad High Court hoping for relief. She had applied for six months of maternity leave after the birth of her fourth child. The local Block Education Officer had rejected her request in June, citing service rules. Kumari challenged that order, arguing she had never taken maternity leave for her earlier three children and should be entitled to it now.
Her counsel pressed the point that this was her first actual request for leave, making the rejection unfair. The state’s lawyer disagreed, pointing out that the rules are clear: maternity leave is not available for a fourth child. They also noted that Kumari had already availed leave earlier, contradicting her claim.
Justice Manju Rani Chauhan heard both sides. After reviewing the submissions, the court concluded that the law does not permit maternity leave for a fourth child. The judge said there was no need to interfere with the education officer’s order. Kumari’s petition was dismissed.
This ruling highlights the strict limits placed on government employees regarding maternity benefits. While Kumari argued her case on personal grounds, the Allahabad HC reinforced that service rules must be applied uniformly. For employees, the judgment is a reminder that maternity leave provisions stop at three children, regardless of individual circumstances.