Kerala University Announces Maternity Leave For Female Students 

Kerala University has made an official announcement that it will offer 6 months of maternity leave to all its female students. The decision was taken before International Women's Day which will be observed on March 8.

The provision was made weeks after the state government of Kerala informed the higher education institutions (HEIs) that they can limit the attendance percentage to 73 percent for all female students to provide them with menstrual leave.

Kerala University Announces Maternity Leave

As per the provision, students will have to submit their medical records as well as their doctor's prescriptions to the college authorities. The university syndicate claimed that the responsibility of cross-checking the medical records of the students who will avail maternity leave will have to allow them to rejoin college after that without having to take re-admission or without seeking the university's approval.

Apart from Kerala University, the Cochin University of Science and Technology has already offered all its female students maternity leave of 60 days. Cochin University of Science and Technology was also the first university to provide its female students with menstrual leave. In Kerala, the University of Health Sciences will be offering 6 months of maternity leave to its female students as well.

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Recently, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a public interest litigation about universities, colleges and workplaces providing menstrual leave to female students and working-class women. "Having regard with the policy views, it would be much appropriate if the petitioner approaches the women and child development ministry directly,” ruled the bench of the Supreme Court.

Therefore, the apex court directed the petitioner to take the matter in front of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The public interest litigation was by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi harped on to the 1961 Maternity Benefit Act to allow monthly leave for female students and working-class women at their particular workplaces during their menstrual cycle.