Himachal Pradesh High Court Upholds Right to Paternity Leave for Contractual Employees.
Himachal Pradesh High Court Upholds Right to Paternity Leave for Contractual Employees In a significant ruling, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in Munish Patyal vs. State of Himachal Pradesh (CWP No. 4271 of 2025) has held that the State cannot discriminate between male and female employees engaged on contractual, ad hoc, tenure, or temporary basis with respect to the grant of paternity and maternity leave. The Court emphasized that the right to parenthood leave—whether maternity or paternity—is intrinsically linked to the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India , read with the directive principle under Article 42 , which mandates the State to ensure provisions for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. Accordingly, the rejection of paternity leave to male employees on contractual or temporary service was declared unsustainable in law. Court’s Directions While concluding, t...