JK admin has notified special maternity leave of 60 days to a woman employee in case of death of a child soon after birth/still birth with some conditions.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of Constitution of India, the Lieutenant Governor is pleased to direct that after sub rule (1) of rule 41 of the Jammu Kashmir Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1979, (1-a) Special Maternity Leave of 60 days may be granted to a woman employee in case of death of a child soon after birth/stillbirth on the some conditions.” Reads an order issued by Director General codes Finance Department, a copy of which lies with the Kashmir Scroll.
“The condition as per notification includes that in case a Maternity Leave has already been availed by a woman employee 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, in case the maternity leave has not been availed by a woman employee, 60 days of Special Maternity Leave may be granted from the date of expiry of child soon after birth/stillbirth, the condition for death of a child soon after birth may be defined as up to 28 days after birth, A baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation may be defined as stillbirth and the benefit of Special Maternity Leave shall be admissible only to a woman employee with less than 2 surviving children.
“The other rules as per order include that Special Maternity leave shall not be debited against the leave account and may be combined with any other kind of leave and during the period of such leave, she shall be paid leave salary equal to pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave.” It reads further—(KS)