Andhra Pradesh: Maternity leave granted to commissioning mother by HC

VIJAYAWADA: The high court has said a commissioning mother is eligible for

maternity leave

to take care of the child.

A commissioning mother is one who hires a surrogate mother to bear child on her behalf.

The court passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Dr B

V V Kiranmai

, who works as an associate professor at

Rangaraya

medical college in

Kakinada

.

She had sought maternity leave for taking care of twins born through surrogacy.

The high court bench of Justice

Ninala Jayasurya

passed the interim orders, directing the government to grant maternity leave to Dr Kiranmai to take care of her newborns.

Kiranmayi, in her petition, stated she was denied maternity leave as she had the twins through a surrogate. KV Seshagiri, counsel for the petitioner, argued that denial of maternity leave to a commissioning mother is against fundamental rights. The government pleader requested the court to give time for filing a counter.

The court did not take the argument of the government pleader into consideration, and sanctioned leave considering the matter as a special case, adding that the duration of the leave would be based on the final judgement.