The high court has rapped the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for not being sympathetic to an employee who had sought two years' childcare leave, as prescribed by the Union government, to take care of her 12-year-old daughter who has learning disability.
"We are surprised at the adversarial stand of the AAI.... We are shocked by its attitude. As an employer you should have taken a sympathetic approach," said justice VM Kanade.
A division bench of justices Kanade and Anil Memon was hearing a petition by S Mangala, AAI deputy general manager (aviation safety), seeking implementation of childcare leave as recommended in the Sixth Pay Commission in 2008.
Mangala approached the high court after AAI had rejected her request for childcare leave.
Ajay Khaire, the AAI counsel, argued that their policy did not include childcare leave. "We have increased maternity leave from 135 days to 180 days. But there is no provision for childcare leave," said Khaire.
Ravi Shetty, counsel for Union government, said that several public sector undertakings had their own policies and benefits for employees and did not follow Central government guidelines.
23/04/14 Urvi Mahajani/Daily News & Analysis
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"We are surprised at the adversarial stand of the AAI.... We are shocked by its attitude. As an employer you should have taken a sympathetic approach," said justice VM Kanade.
A division bench of justices Kanade and Anil Memon was hearing a petition by S Mangala, AAI deputy general manager (aviation safety), seeking implementation of childcare leave as recommended in the Sixth Pay Commission in 2008.
Mangala approached the high court after AAI had rejected her request for childcare leave.
Ajay Khaire, the AAI counsel, argued that their policy did not include childcare leave. "We have increased maternity leave from 135 days to 180 days. But there is no provision for childcare leave," said Khaire.
Ravi Shetty, counsel for Union government, said that several public sector undertakings had their own policies and benefits for employees and did not follow Central government guidelines.
23/04/14 Urvi Mahajani/Daily News & Analysis
