he Supreme Court has ruled that an adopted child must be treated on par with a biological child, affirming that a woman adopting a child older than three months is entitled to maternity leave. Emphasising that maternity protection is a fundamental human right, the court stated that families formed through non-biological means deserve equal legal recognition and support.

The court ruled as unconstitutional Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code, which states, “A woman who legally adopts a child below the age of three months or a commissioning mother shall be entitled to maternity benefit for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to the adopting mother or the commissioning mother, as the case may be.”