Representative image NEW DELHI: SC on Tuesday urged the Centre to bring in a law to recognise paternity leave as a social security benefit, highlighting the long-overlooked role of a father in caring for newborns.”Society has historically attributed caregiving and nurturing responsibilities almost exclusively to mothers. While the role of a mother is undeniably central to a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological development, it would be incomplete and unjust to overlook the equally significant role of a father,” a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. The court said society has normalised an unintentional form of injustice.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran calls Israeli bombing of fuel depots ‘ecocide’; Trump warns Nato over war fallout’We don’t need help!’ Trump explodes after Nato, other nations refuse to take part in Iran warIran confirms death of national security chief Ali Larijani, president Pezeshkian offers condolences Supreme Court made the suggestions while setting aside a provision in Code on Social Security that denied maternity leave to a woman adopting a child older than three months. It said a father’s absence during a child’s formative years due to job constraints denies both opportunity for early bonding, and suggested a law on paternity leave on the lines of the CCS (Leave) Rules, which grant male govt servants 15 days’ paternity leave for the birth of the child or adoption.“Parenthood is not a solitary function performed by one parent but rather a shared responsibility in which each parent contributes to the child’s holistic development. Although the father is present at the periphery of infancy, yet he is not present in the intimate and irreplaceable way that society has always presumed the mother must be. This acceptance of absence has seldom been examined with the seriousness it deserves. As a result, the cost is borne silently by children who grow up never realising what they lacked, by fathers who were constrained by circumstances to remain distant. At the same time, by mothers who were denied the companionship and support of their partners in the early phase of caregiving,” it said.The court said the lack of paternity leave reinforces gendered roles in parenting and denies willing fathers a meaningful opportunity to contribute.“When fathers are afforded the opportunity to take leave following the arrival of the child, they are able to support mother and share family responsibilities. …We urge govt to come up with a provision recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit. The duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child,” it said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Maintain Exports Again’: Piyush Goyal Highlights India’s ‘Stable’ Trade Amid West Asia WarSupreme Court Strikes Down Three-Month Rule, Grants Equal Maternity Leave To Adoptive Mothers Too‘Culture Erased’ Claim Sparks Row Over Hindu Temple In Dallas Fort, Targets Indian Community OnlineIndia Urges UN Reform Amid Iran War, Seeks BRICS Unity As Conflict Divides Members’Bapu Wanted To…’: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Scathing Attack On Congress Over VB-G RAM G BillNo Petrol Or Diesel Price Hike For Now Says Centre Amid West Asia Oil Market Volatility Crisis’Bundled Up And Thrown Into Jail’: Sonam Wangchuk In First Remarks After Release From NSA DetentionLok Sabha Revokes Suspension Of 8 Oppn MPs, Warns Against Placards, AI PicturesCentre Confirms All Indian Sailors, Ships Are Safe As LPG Vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi Dock In IndiaDial PM Modi For Peace: Finland Backs India To Broker Ceasefire, Urges Trump To Call Delhi123PhotostoriesWhat Sudha Murty gets right about parenting (and most of us forget)Meet 8 animals with strange noses that are not just for smellingTom Holland movies to watch before ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: A complete MCU guide5 Mystical facts about Kashi Vishwanath templeFrom Sabyasachi to Gaurav Gupta: Indian designers who quietly dominated the Oscars 2026 red carpet15 die after drinking milk contaminated with ethylene glycol: How to do milk purity test and 5 other calcium-rich foods to consumeThe Great Indian Kapil Show 4 Finale: David Dhawan on Salman Khan asking him to tell Akshay Kumar not to touch him during ‘MSK’ Shoot; Kapil Sharma recalls doing Hans Baliye with wife GinniChaitra Navratri 2026: How to make Makhana Dosa for breakfast at home11 iconic Maharashtrian street foods that define regional flavours5 signs your workout routine is stressing you out instead of helping you123Hot PicksMaternity leaveBengal police reshuffleMatthew Van DykeGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingGreen card applicantsVisa Bulletin 2026Green Card HoldersUAE missile alertTulsi GabbardChief Ali LarijaniAssembly election dateBig Show rumoursSpurs Kings injury reportEid ul fitr 2026
NEW DELHI: SC on Tuesday urged the Centre to bring in a law to recognise paternity leave as a social security benefit, highlighting the long-overlooked role of a father in caring for newborns.“Society has historically attributed caregiving and nurturing responsibilities almost exclusively to mothers. While the role of a mother is undeniably central to a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological development, it would be incomplete and unjust to overlook the equally significant role of a father,” a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. The court said society has normalised an unintentional form of injustice. Supreme Court made the suggestions while setting aside a provision in Code on Social Security that denied maternity leave to a woman adopting a child older than three months. It said a father’s absence during a child’s formative years due to job constraints denies both opportunity for early bonding, and suggested a law on paternity leave on the lines of the CCS (Leave) Rules, which grant male govt servants 15 days’ paternity leave for the birth of the child or adoption.“Parenthood is not a solitary function performed by one parent but rather a shared responsibility in which each parent contributes to the child’s holistic development. Although the father is present at the periphery of infancy, yet he is not present in the intimate and irreplaceable way that society has always presumed the mother must be. This acceptance of absence has seldom been examined with the seriousness it deserves. As a result, the cost is borne silently by children who grow up never realising what they lacked, by fathers who were constrained by circumstances to remain distant. At the same time, by mothers who were denied the companionship and support of their partners in the early phase of caregiving,” it said.The court said the lack of paternity leave reinforces gendered roles in parenting and denies willing fathers a meaningful opportunity to contribute.“When fathers are afforded the opportunity to take leave following the arrival of the child, they are able to support mother and share family responsibilities. …We urge govt to come up with a provision recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit. The duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child,” it said.
