Supreme Court Grants Maternity Leave to Adoptive Mothers Without Age Restriction on Child

The Supreme Court of India ruled that adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave regardless of the adopted child's age, striking down a provision in the 2020 Social Security Code that limited this benefit to children under three months. The court emphasized that adoption is an equally valid pathway to parenthood and maternity protection is a basic human right. It also urged the government to consider introducing paternity leave as a social welfare measure.