SC urges Centre to recognise paternity leave

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the Union government to enact a law recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, while striking down a provision that limited maternity benefits for adoptive mothers based on the child’s age.

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan observed that the question of granting paternity leave, including its duration and conditions, falls within the policy domain of the Centre, but stressed the need for a legal framework acknowledging fathers as equal caregivers.

"We urge the Union to come out with a provision recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit. The duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child," the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench said.

The observations came while the top court delivered its verdict on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of provisions that limited maternity leave for adoptive mothers.