Orissa High Court says surrogate mothers also entitled to maternity leave

The Orissa High Court ruled that surrogate mothers deserve equal maternity leave, emphasizing initial caregiving's importance for child development. OFS officer Supriya Jena's 2020 petition against the denial of 180 days leave was upheld by Justice S K Panigrahi, who cited Article 21 to direct Odisha to treat adoptive and surrogate mothers equally and referred to international conventions like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to ensure non-discriminatory employment treatment. Revised rules were mandated for inclusivity. This landmark ruling supports every child's right to full development and a stable environment.