Quashed

Shila Kumari Meena v. the State of Rajasthan

Rajasthan HC4 Oct 2021CW/12986/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Rajasthan held that the rejection of the petitioner's maternity leave application was unsustainable. Citing Smt. Neeraj, the court quashed the impugned order and directed the respondents to grant maternity leave and consequential benefits within three weeks.

What did the court decide?

The order dated 19.08.2021 quashed and set-aside; respondents directed to grant maternity leave and consequential benefits to the petitioner within three weeks.

Shila Kumari Meena Vs the State of Rajasthan — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Rajasthan HC (2021)

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(1 of 2)

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[CW-12986/2021]

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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR

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S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 12986/2021

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Shila Kumari Meena W/o Jugraj Meena D/o Mahaveer Meena, Aged About 25 Years, R/o Village Mehraana, Post Teerath, Tehsil Tolera, District Bundi, Presently Posted At Jawahara Lal Nehru Medical College, Ajmer.

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----Petitioner

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Versus

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The State Of Rajasthan, Through The Principal Secretary, Department Of Medical And Health Services, Rajasthan, Jaipur.

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The Additional Director (Admin), Department Of Medical And Health Services, Rajasthan, Jaipur.

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The Joint Director (Non-Gazetted), Department Of Medical And Health Services, Rajasthan, Jaipur.

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Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Ajmer.

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----Respondents

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For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Bhavit Sharma. For Respondent(s) : Ms. Vandana Bhansali.

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN BHANSALI Order

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04/10/2021

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This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner aggrieved against the order dated 19.08.2021 (Annex.8), whereby, her application for grant of maternity leave has been rejected with reference to provisions of Rule 103 of the Rajasthan Service Rules, 1951.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the issue raised in the present writ petition is squarely covered by judgment in the case of Smt. Neeraj v. State of Rajasthan : S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.4384/2020 decided on 07.12.2020 and affirmed by Division Bench in State of Rajasthan v. Smt. Neeraj (DBSAW No. 376/2021) decided on 04.08.2021.

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The Division Bench in the case of Smt. Neeraj held as under:-

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(2 of 2)

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[CW-12986/2021]

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“We are in complete agreement with the view taken by the learned Single Judge that since it is a beneficial legislation and if a female government servant is giving birth to a child within the stipulated period of confinement i.e. 15 days before to three months after the birth of the child, she will be entitled to maternity leave. The argument of the learned Additional Advocate General that the respondent was not a Government Servant at the time of delivery of a child has no merit and therefore, the same is liable to be rejected in the light of the discussions made hereinabove. It is reiterated that the purpose and intention of the rulemaking authority is to facilitate the female government employees by extending the benefit of maternity leave at the time of delivery of the child. In view of the discussions made above, the judgment dated 07.12.2020 passed by learned Single Judge is upheld and the appeal is dismissed being bereft of merit.”

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Learned counsel for the respondents is not in a position to contradict the fact that the rejection made only on account of interpretation of Rule 103 is contrary to the Division Bench decision.

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In that view of the fact that the order dated 19.08.2021 (Annex.8) passed by the respondents is quashed and set-aside. The respondents are directed to decide the application of the petitioner and grant her consequential benefits in terms of the judgments of this Court in the case of Smt. Neeraj (S.B.& D.B. Both).

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Needful may be done within a period of three weeks from the date a copy of this order is placed by the petitioner alongwith both the judgments before the competent authority.

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(ARUN BHANSALI),J

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36-pradeep/-

Shila Kumari Meena v. the State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Shila Kumari Meena v. the State of Rajasthan

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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