Centre To Grant 60-Day Special Maternity Leave In Case Of Infant Death

New Delhi: The Central government has decided to grant a 60-day special maternity leave to Central government female employees if they go through 'death of a child soon after birth / stillbirth' under certain conditions, stated an order by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

The order came after considering the emotional trauma caused due to stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth which has a far reaching impact on a mother's life.

"Keeping in view the potential emotional trauma caused due to stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth, which has a far-reaching impact on the mother's life, it has now been decided to grant a special maternity leave of 60 days to a female central government servant," the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions said in a release.

The conditions for the leave are:

(i) In case a Maternity Leave has already been availed by a female Central Government servant and her leave continues till the date of expiry of child soon after birth / stillbirth, the maternity leave already availed till death of the child may be converted into any other kind of leave available in her leave account without insisting for a medical certificate and a Special Maternity Leave of 60 days may be granted from the date of expiry of child soon after birth / Stillbirth.

(ii) In case the maternity leave has not been availed by a female Central Government servant, 60 days of Special Maternity Leave may be granted from the date of expiry of child soon after birth/ stillbirth.

(iii) The condition for death of a child soon after birth may be defined as up to 28 days after birth.

(iv) A baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation may be defined as Stillbirth.

(v) The benefit of Special Maternity Leave shall be admissible only to a female Central Government servant with less than 2 surviving children and for child delivery only in an authorized hospital.

(vi) "Authorized Hospital" is defined as Government Hospital or Private Hospital empanelled under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). In case of emergency delivery in non-empanelled private hospital, production of emergency certificate is mandatory.

"These orders shall be applicable to Government employees appointed to the civil services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union of India in terms of Rule 2 of the CCS (Leave) Rules 1972 with effect from the date of issue of this O.M. The past cases, wherever settled in respective Ministries/ Departments need not be reopened," the order further stated.

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