Orissa High Court Grants Maternity Leave to Mothers via Surrogacy

Orissa High Court has ruled that female employees who become mothers through surrogacy have the same right to maternity leave as natural and adoptive mothers. This decision came after Supriya Jena, an Odisha Finance Service officer, filed a petition challenging the denial of maternity leave by the state government.

In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has affirmed that female employees who become mothers through surrogacy are entitled to the same maternity leave and benefits as natural and adoptive mothers.

The ruling was delivered by Justice S K Panigrahi on June 25, in response to a petition filed by Supriya Jena, an Odisha Finance Service officer, who was denied 180 days of maternity leave after becoming a mother through surrogacy.

The court emphasized that all mothers, regardless of how they become parents, should have the necessary time to create a stable and loving environment for their child. The state government has been directed to implement this provision within three months.