The Allahabad High Court has rejected a government employee’s plea seeking maternity leave for the birth of her fourth child, holding that she was not entitled to such leave under the applicable rules.

The bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan passed the order on August 7 while hearing a petition filed by Shashi Kumari.

Kumari had challenged an order dated June 19 issued by the Block Education Officer, Sambhal (Bheem Nagar), which rejected her request for maternity leave for her fourth child.

She had asked the High Court to set aside the order and direct the authorities to grant her six months of maternity leave as provided under the applicable rules.

Opposing the petition, the State counsel argued that the rules did not permit maternity leave for the birth of a fourth child. Therefore, the counsel submitted that there was no reason for the High Court to interfere with the education officer’s decision.

Kumari’s counsel, however, argued that she had not taken maternity leave when her first three children were born. Since she was seeking maternity leave for the first time, the counsel contended that she should be allowed the benefit.

The State disputed this claim and pointed to a statement in Kumari’s own petition indicating that she had already availed maternity leave.

Taking the submissions of the State counsel on record, Justice Chauhan found no ground to interfere with the order passed by the education officer.

The High Court accordingly dismissed the writ petition.