Meet the adoptive mom who took on the law, and won

Shruti SonalTNN
Mar 21, 2026 | 19:42 IST
Nanduri says the case was about recognising the struggles of adoptive mothers like her

The Supreme Court has ruled that adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of the child's age, overturning a previous three-month limit. This landmark decision, following a five-year legal battle, recognizes the unique challenges faced by adoptive mothers in integrating children into their homes and families.

In a significant ruling last week, the Supreme Court held that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks irrespective of the age of the adopted child. Earlier, adoptive mothers got maternity leave only if the child was below three months old. The judgment came as the culmination of a five-year legal battle led by Delhi-based fintech lawyer Hamsaanandini Nanduri.

“That day is still so fresh in my mind. It will always be one of my favourite days.... We were so nervous, so anxious, to see what is in store for us,” recalls Nanduri about that day in Sept 2017 when she and her husband brought home the two siblings they had adopted.
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