In a significant and progressive judgment, the Supreme Court of India has struck down the restriction that allowed maternity leave to adoptive mothers only if the child was below 3 months of age.

The Court held that motherhood is not limited to childbirth, and adoptive mothers have the same responsibilities, emotional bonding, and caregiving duties as biological mothers. Therefore, denying maternity benefits based on the child’s age was found to be unfair and unconstitutional.

Now, all adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of the age of the child at the time of adoption.

This judgment ensures equality, supports adoptive families, and prioritizes the welfare and integration of the child into the family.