Tamil Nadu announces 365-day maternity leave for third child for women government employees

The Tamil Nadu government announced on Tuesday that women government employees will be entitled to 365 days of maternity leave for their third child, up from the current 12 weeks. Human Resources Management Minister D. Sarathkumar made the announcement in the Assembly during the demand for grants discussion.

The decision reverses the state's earlier position. In March, Tamil Nadu amended Fundamental Rule 101(A) to restrict maternity leave to 12 weeks for women government employees with two or more surviving children, following a Supreme Court order. The amended provision was upheld by the Madras High Court in June in a case involving a woman government employee who had sought 365 days of leave for her third child. The court ruled that she was entitled to only 12 weeks under the amended rules.

The latest announcement restores the 365-day benefit for the third child.