Supreme Court Strikes Down Three-Month Age Limit
The Supreme Court has expanded Adoptive Mothers Maternity Benefits by striking down Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code, 2020. The Court found the provision unconstitutional.
In Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India, Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan examined the provision.
The law restricted maternity benefits to women who adopted children below three months of age. However, the Supreme Court found this restriction discriminatory.
The Court held that the provision excluded adoptive mothers of older children without a valid constitutional basis.
Maternity Benefits Cannot Depend Only On Child’s Age
The Supreme Court held that maternity benefits serve several important purposes.
They do not only address the physical effects of biological childbirth. Instead, they also support the relationship between a parent and child.
Maternity leave can help parents adjust to their new responsibilities. It also gives parents time to develop a strong bond with their children.
Therefore, these objectives apply to adoptive parents as well.
The Court found no reasonable basis to deny benefits simply because an adopted child is older than three months.
Articles 14 And 21 Protect Adoptive Mothers
The Bench held that the three-month restriction violated constitutional guarantees.
Article 14 protects equality before the law. Article 21 protects the right to life and personal liberty.
The Court found that Section 60(4) created an unfair distinction between adoptive mothers based only on the child’s age.
As a result, the provision failed to satisfy constitutional standards.
Supreme Court Highlights Importance Of Paternity Leave
The judgment also discussed the importance of paternity leave.
The Court recognised the role fathers play in childcare and parenting. It stressed that both parents share responsibilities within the family.
Furthermore, the Bench called for greater recognition of parental responsibilities.
The Court encouraged policymakers to consider gender-neutral approaches to parental benefits.
Such policies could better reflect the shared responsibilities of parents in modern families.
Judgment Expands Parental Rights
The ruling places child welfare and parental equality at the centre of maternity benefit policies.
By striking down the three-month age restriction, the Supreme Court expanded protections for adoptive mothers.
The judgment also recognises that parenthood can take different forms. Therefore, legal benefits should not unfairly favour biological parents over adoptive parents.
The decision strengthens the constitutional understanding of maternity and parental benefits.
Supreme Court Strengthens Adoptive Mothers’ Rights
The judgment marks an important development in the legal rights of adoptive parents.
The Court removed the age-based restriction under Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code, 2020.
Consequently, the ruling broadens the scope of Adoptive Mothers Maternity Benefits and promotes greater equality among different forms of parenthood.
The judgment also highlights the need for broader parental benefits that recognise the responsibilities of both mothers and fathers.
