Maternity leave cannot hurt careers: Delhi HC orders Rs 10 lakh compensation

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has held that a woman returning from maternity leave is ordinarily entitled to be restored to the same position she held before going on leave and cannot be placed at a professional disadvantage because of pregnancy or motherhood. The court also directed the employer to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation and Rs 1.5 lakh costs to a woman who alleged that she was moved to a less important role after returning from maternity leave. The judgment was pronounced on August 31, 2026.Why did the woman approach the high court?According to the court order, the petitioner, a chartered accountant with about 14 years of professional experience, was appointed as manager, Accounting in 2022 with a monthly salary of Rs 2.6 lakh.She informed her employer about her pregnancy in May 2023 and was later moved to another team.