SRINAGAR: Nearly three months after the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court quashed a government communication denying maternity salary to a group of senior resident doctors, some of them are still awaiting their dues, leaving payments relating to maternity leave and extended residency pending.
In its July 10 judgment in Dr Sonakshi Gupta and Others versus Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court set aside the communication denying the doctors salary during maternity leave. However, the dues of some eligible doctors have yet to be cleared, raising questions about the implementation of the court’s decision.
For the doctors concerned, the delay has financial implications at a time when they are recovering from childbirth and caring for newborns. Despite securing relief through legal proceedings, some continue to wait for the salary they are entitled to receive.
Senior residency is a demanding phase of a doctor’s career, involving long working hours, patient care and specialised training. Childbirth brings additional responsibilities, including physical recovery and caring for a new-born, while delayed salary payments can add to the financial pressure on young families.
For women who depend on their earnings to meet household expenses, prolonged uncertainty over maternity-related payments can make an already challenging period more difficult.
The delay also highlights a broader concern about the support available to working women during maternity. While women are encouraged to pursue professional careers and financial independence, the timely delivery of maternity benefits remains essential to ensuring that childbirth does not become a source of avoidable financial insecurity.
Maternity benefits are intended to provide financial protection during a period when a woman may be unable to work under normal conditions. When payments remain pending for months, beneficiaries can be left pursuing administrative remedies even after obtaining judicial relief.
