SC gives centre 8 weeks to implement maternity benefit act

The supreme court has asked the union government to ensure full implementation of the Maternity Benefit Act within eight weeks. The Supreme court's order came while hearing a petition demanding implementation of 4(b) of the National Food Security Act.

The move comes as a reason to cheer for beneficiaries with maternity leave already being extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks by the government. A petition filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties came before the bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta on Tuesday.

The petition sought implementation of section 4(b) of the National Food Security Act, which states that every pregnant and lactating mother would be entitled to "maternity benefit of not less than Rs 6,000.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves submitted that the maternity benefit will have to be given to all pregnant women, pressing that the government must implement the statute. The government's counsel maintained that the implementation guidelines were currently being framed.

Considering the arguments, the court gave government 8 weeks time to frame guidelines and implement the act.

OneIndia News