Maternity Benefits for Third Child:
K. Umadevi v. Government of Tamil Nadu Case, 2022, the Supreme Court (SC) granted maternity benefits to a woman for her third child, under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 calling it a constitutional right.The SC affirmed that the right to health, dignity, privacy, and non-discrimination are integral to the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.It emphasized that reproductive rights form part of international human rights law, including rights to health, equality, and dignity.
Right to reproductive choices is protected under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty), as reaffirmed in the Suchita Srivastava v. Chandigarh Administration Case, 2009. Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended in 2017, provides paid maternity leave and related benefits to women employees both before and after childbirth.
