Delhi High Court ne ek solid judgment pass kiya hai. Maternity leave se lautne wali employees ko ab sirf same salary nahi, balki wahi same roles aur responsibilities milni chahiye. Rules todne wali companies ab musibat mein hain.
Court ka clear message
Delhi High Court ne Rakhi Bisht v. Union of India case mein saaf keh diya hai ki maternity leave ke naam par kisi ka career path kharab nahi kiya ja sakta. Court ke mutabik, agar koi employee wapas aa rahi hai, toh uska role, reporting hierarchy aur responsibilities bilkul pehle jaisi honi chahiye. Sirf salary wahi rakhne se kaam nahi chalega!
Compensation aur Penalty ka risk
Is case mein court ne petitioner ko ₹10 Lakh ka compensation aur ₹1.5 Lakh ka legal cost dilaya hai. Jo companies ab tak maternity leave se aayi ladies se unki power chheen leti thin, unke liye ab bada legal risk ban gaya hai. Ab companies ko ye prove karna padega ki agar role change hua hai, toh wo kisi legit business reason ki wajah se hai, na ki discriminatory.
HR policies badalne wali hain
Court ne Central Government ko agle 6 mahine ke andar maternity reintegration ke liye naye rules banane ko kaha hai. Business owners ke liye ye ek wake-up call hai. Ab HR policies mein compliance na hona seedha litigation aur reputational loss ko invite karega. Investors ko bhi ab companies ki internal audit par nazar rakhni hogi, kyunki Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 aur Code on Social Security, 2020 ke under ab rules aur bhi tight hone wale hain.