THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961

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THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961 

_________ 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 

__________ 

SECTIONS 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 

2. Application of Act. 

3. Definitions. 

4. Employment of, or work by, women prohibited during certain period. 

5. Right to payment of maternity benefit. 

5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases. 

5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases. 

6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof. 

7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman. 

8. Payment of medical bonus. 

9. Leave for miscarriage, etc. 

9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation. 

10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child, miscarriage, medical 

termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation. 

11. Nursing breaks. 

11A. Crèche facility. 

12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy. 

13. No deduction of wages in certain cases. 

14. Appointment of Inspectors. 

15. Powers and duties of Inspectors. 

16. Inspectors to be public servants. 

17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made. 

18. Forfeiture of maternity benefit. 

19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited. 

20. Registers, etc. 

21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer. 

22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector. 

23. Cognizance of offences. 

24. Protection of action taken in good faith. 

25. Power of Central Government to give directions. 

26. Power to exempt establishments. 

27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act. 

28. Power to make rules. 

29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951. 

30. Repeal. 



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THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961 

ACT NO. 53 OF 1961 

[12th December, 1961.] 

An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods before 

and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Maternity Benefit               

Act, 1961. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India 
1
***. 

(3) It shall come into force on such date
2
 as may be notified in this behalf in the Official Gazette,— 

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[(a) in relation to mines and to any other establishment wherein persons are employed for the 

exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances, by the Central Government; and] 

(b) in relation to other establishments in a State, by the State Government. 

2. Application of Act.—
4
[(1) It applies, in the first instance,— 

(a) to every establishment being a factory, mine or plantation including any such establishment 

belonging to Government and to every establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition 

of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances; 

(b) to every shop or establishment within the meaning of any law for the time being in force in 

relation to shops and establishments in a State, in which ten or more persons are employed, or were 

employed, on any day of the preceding twelve months:] 

Provided that the State Government may, with the approval of the Central Government, after giving 

not less than two months’ notice of its intention of so doing, by notification in the Official Gazette, 

declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act shall apply also to any other establishment or class of 

establishments, industrial, commercial, agricultural or otherwise. 

(2) 
5
[Save as otherwise provided in 

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[sections 5A and 5B], nothing contained in this Act] shall              

apply to any factory or other establishment to which the provisions of the Employees’ State Insurance  

Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), apply for the time being. 

3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

(a) “appropriate Government” means, in relation to an establishment being a mine, 
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[or an 

establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other 

performances,] the Central Government and in relation to any other establishment, the State 

Government; 

(b) “child” includes a still-born child; 

                                                           
1. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).   

2. 1st November, 1963, vide notification No. S.O. 2920 (E), dated 5th October, 1963, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, 

Part II, sec. 3 (ii). 

3. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, s. 2, for clause (a) (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).  

4. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 2, for the opening paragraph (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

5. Subs. by Act 21 of 1972, s. 2, for “Nothing contained in this Act” (w.e.f. 1-6-1972).  

6. Subs. by Act 53 of 1976, s. 2, for “section 5A” (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).  

7. Ins. by Act 52 of 1973, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).  



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[(ba) “commissioning mother” means a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo 

implanted in any other woman;] 

(c) “delivery” means the birth of a child; 

(d) “employer” means— 

(i) in relation to an establishment which is under the control of the Government, a person or 

authority appointed by the Government for the supervision and control of employees or where no 

person or authority is so appointed, the head of the department; 

(ii) in relation to an establishment under any local authority, the person appointed by such 

authority for the supervision and control of employees or where no person is so appointed, the chief 

executive officer of the local authority; 

(iii) in any other case, the person who, or the authority which, has the ultimate control over the 

affairs of the establishment and where the said affairs are entrusted to any other person whether 

called a manager, managing director, managing agent, or by any other name, such person; 

2
[(e) “establishment” means— 

(i) a factory; 

(ii) a mine; 

(iii) a plantation; 

(iv) an establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic 

and other performances; 
3
*** 

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[(iva) a shop or establishment; or] 

(v) an establishment to which the provisions of this Act have been declared under                                         

sub-section (1) of section 2 to be applicable;] 

(f) “factory” means a factory as defined in clause (m) of section 2 of the Factories                                 

Act, 1948 (63 of 1948); 

(g) “Inspector” means an Inspector appointed under section 14; 

(h) “maternity benefit” means the payment referred to in sub-section (1) of section 5; 

5
[(ha) “medical termination of pregnancy” means the termination of pregnancy permissible under 

the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (34 of 1971);] 

(i) “mine” means a mine as defined in clause (j) of section 2 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952); 

(j) “miscarriage” means expulsion of the contents of a pregnant uterus at any period prior to or 

during the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy but does not include any miscarriage, the causing of which 

is punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860); 

(k) “plantation” means a plantation as defined in clause (f) of section 2 of the Plantations Labour 

Act, 1951 (69 of 1951); 

(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

(m) “State Government”, in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof; 

                                                           
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2017, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-4-2017). 

2. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, s. 4, for clause (e) (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).  

3. The word “or” omitted by Act 61 of 1988, s. 3 (w.e.f. 10-1-1988).  

4. Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 10-1-1988).  

 5. Ins. by Act 29 of 1995, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).  



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(n) “wages” means all remuneration paid or payable in cash to a woman, if the terms of the 

contract of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled and includes— 

(1) such cash allowances (including dearness allowance and house rent allowance) as a 

woman is for the time being entitled to; 

(2) incentive bonus; and 

(3) the money value of the concessional supply of foodgrains and other articles, 

but does not include— 

(i) any bonus other than incentive bonus; 

(ii) over-time earnings and any deduction or payment made on account of fines; 

(iii) any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund 

or for the benefit of the woman under any law for the time being in force; and 

(iv) any gratuity payable on the termination of service; 

(o) “woman” means a woman employed, whether directly or through any agency, for wages in 

any establishment. 

4. Employment of, or work by, women prohibited during certain period.—(1) No employer shall 

knowingly employ a woman in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of 

her delivery 
1
[, miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy]. 

(2) No woman shall work in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of 

her delivery 
1
[, miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy]. 

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 6, no pregnant woman shall, on a request                     

being made by her in this behalf, be required by her employer to do during the period specified in                   

sub-section (4) any work which is of an arduous nature or which involves long hours of standing, 

or which in any way is likely to interfere with her pregnancy or the normal development of the foetus, or 

is likely to cause her miscarriage or otherwise to adversely affect her health. 

(4) The period referred to in sub-section (3) shall be— 

(a) the period of one month immediately preceding the period of six weeks, before the date of her 

expected delivery; 

(b) any period during the said period of six weeks for which the pregnant woman does not avail 

of leave of absence under section 6. 

5. Right to payment of maternity benefit.—
2
[(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every woman 

shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the 

average daily wage for the period of her actual absence, that is to say, the period immediately preceding 

the day of her delivery, the actual day of her delivery and any period immediately following that day.] 

Explanation.—For the purpose of this sub-section, the average daily wage means the average of the 

woman’s wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked during the period of three calendar 

months immediately preceding the date from which she absents herself on account of maternity, 
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[the 

minimum rate of wage fixed or revised under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948) or ten rupees, 

whichever is the highest]. 

(2) No woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked in an 

establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit, for a period of not less 

than 
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[eighty days] in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery: 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, s. 3, for “or her miscarriage” (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).  

2. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 4, for the opening paragraph (w.e.f. 10-1-1989). 

3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “or one rupee a day, whichever is higher.” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

4. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for “one hundred and sixty days” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  



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Provided that the qualifying period of 
 1

[eighty days] aforesaid shall not apply to a woman who has 

immigrated into the State of Assam and was pregnant at the time of the immigration. 

Explanation.—For the purpose of calculating under this sub-section the days on which a woman has 

actually worked in the establishment, 
2
[the days for which she has been laid off or was on holidays 

declared under any law for the time being in force to be holidays with wages] during the period of twelve 

months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery shall be taken into account. 

3
[(3) The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit shall be 

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[twenty-six weeks of which not more than eight weeks] shall precede the date of her expected delivery:] 

5
[Provided that the maximum period entitled to maternity benefit by a woman having two or more 

than two surviving children shall be twelve weeks of which not more than six weeks shall precede the 

date of her expected delivery:] 

6
[Provided further that] where a woman dies during this period, the maternity benefit shall be payable 

payable only for the days up to and including the day of her death: 

7
[ 

8
[Provided also that] where a woman, having been delivered of a child, dies during her delivery or 

during the period immediately following the date of her delivery for which she is entitled for the 

maternity benefit, leaving behind in either case the child, the employer shall be liable for the maternity 

benefit for that entire period but if the child also dies during the said period, then, for the days up to and 

including the date of the death of the Child.] 

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[(4) 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.  

(5) In case where the nature of work assigned to a woman is of such nature that she may work from 

home, the employer may allow her to do so after availing of the maternity benefit for such period and on 

such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree.] 

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[5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.—Every woman entitled to 

the payment of maternity benefit under this Act shall, notwithstanding the application of the Employees’ 

State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), to the factory or other establishment in which she is employed, 

continue to be so entitled until she becomes qualified to claim maternity benefit under section 50 of that 

Act.] 

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[5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.—Every woman— 

(a) who is employed in a factory or other establishment to which the provisions of the 

Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), apply; 

(b) whose wages (excluding remuneration for overtime work) for a month exceed the amount 

specified in sub-clause (b) of clause (9) of section 2 of that Act; and 

(c) who fulfils the conditions specified in sub-section (2) of section 5, 

shall be entitled to the payment of maternity benefit under this Act.] 

6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof.—(1) Any woman employed in an 

establishment and entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of this Act may give notice in writing 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 4, for “one hundred and sixty days” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  
2. Subs. by, s. 4, ibid., for the days for which she has been laid off” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989). 

3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for sub-section (3)  (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

4. Subs.  by Act 6 of 2017, s. 3 for ‘‘twelve weeks of which not more than six weeks’’ (w.e.f. 1-4-2017). 

5. Ins. by s. 3, ibid (w.e.f. 1-4-2017). 

6. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “Provided that” (w.e.f. 1-4-2017). 

 7. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 4, for the second proviso (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

8. Subs.  by Act 6 of 2017, s. 3 for “Provided further that” (w.e.f. 1-4-2017).   
9. Ins. by, s. 3., ibid  (w.e.f. 1-4-2017). 
10. Ins. by Act 21 of 1972, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-6-1972).  

11. Ins. by Act 53 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).  



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in such form as may be prescribed, to her employer, stating that her maternity benefit and any other 

amount to which she may be entitled under this Act may be paid to her or to such person as she may 

nominate in the notice and that she will not work in any establishment during the period for which she 

receives maternity benefit. 

(2) In the case of a woman who is pregnant, such notice shall state the date from which she will be 

absent from work, not being a date earlier than six weeks from the date of her expected delivery. 

(3) Any woman who has not given the notice when she was pregnant may give such notice as soon as 

possible after the delivery. 

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[(4) On receipt of the notice, the employer shall permit such woman to absent herself from the 

establishment during the period for which she receives the maternity benefit.] 

(5) The amount of maternity benefit for the period preceding the date of her expected delivery shall 

be paid in advance by the employer to the woman on production of such proof as may be prescribed that 

the woman is pregnant, and the amount due for the subsequent period shall be paid by the employer to the 

woman within forty-eight hours of production of such proof as may be prescribed that the woman has 

been delivered of a child. 

(6) The failure to give notice under this section shall not disentitle a woman to maternity benefit or 

any other amount under this Act if she is otherwise entitled to such benefit or amount and in any such 

case an Inspector may either of his own motion or on an application made to him by the woman, order the 

payment of such benefit or amount within such period as may be specified in the order. 

 7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman.—If a woman entitled to maternity 

benefit or any other amount under this Act, dies before receiving such maternity benefit or amount, or 

where the employer is liable for maternity benefit under the second proviso to sub-section (3) of                 

section 5, the employer shall pay such benefit or amount to the person nominated by the woman in the 

notice given under section 6 and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal representative. 

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[8. Payment of medical bonus.— (1) Every woman entitled to maternity benefit under this Act shall 

shall also be entitled to receive from her employer a medical bonus of one thousand rupees, if no pre-natal 

confinement and post-natal care is provided for by the employer free of charge. 

(2) The Central Government may before every three years, by notification in the Official Gazette, 

increase the amount of medical bonus subject to the maximum of twenty thousand rupees.] 

3
[9. Leave for miscarriage, etc.—In case of miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy, a 

woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate 

of maternity benefit, for a period of six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage or, as the 

case may be, her medical termination of pregnancy.] 

4
[9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation.—In case of tubectomy operation, a woman shall, 

shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of 

maternity benefit for a period of two weeks immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation.] 

10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child 
5
[, miscarriage, 

miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation].—A woman suffering from 

illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child 
4
[, miscarriage, medical termination of 

pregnancy or tubectomy operation] shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled, in 

addition to the period of absence allowed to her under section 6, or, as the case may be, under section 9, 

to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a maximum period of one month. 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 5, for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

2. Subs. by Act 15 of 2008, s. 2, for section 8 (w.e.f. 15-4-2008).  

3. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, s. 4, for section 9 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).  

4. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).  

5.  Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “or miscarriage” (w.e.f. 1-2-1996). 



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11. Nursing breaks.—Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after such delivery 

shall, in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed in the course of her daily work two 

breaks of the prescribed duration for nursing the child until the child attains the age of fifteen months. 

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[11A. Crèche facility.—(1) Every establishment having fifty or more employees shall have the 

facility of créche within such distance as may be prescribed, either separately or along with common 

facilities:  

Provided that the employer shall allow four visits a day to the creche by the woman, which shall also 

include the interval for rest allowed to her.  

(2) Every establishment shall intimate in writing and electronically to every woman at the time of her 

initial appointment regarding every benefit available under the Act.] 

12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy.—(1) When a woman absents herself from work in 

accordance with the provisions of this Act, it shall be unlawful for her employer to discharge or dismiss 

her during or on account of such absence or to give notice of discharge or dismissal on such a day that the 

notice will expire during such absence, or to vary to her disadvantage any of the conditions of her service. 

(2) (a) The discharge or dismissal of a woman at any time during her pregnancy, if the woman but for 

such discharge or dismissal would have been entitled to maternity benefit or medical bonus referred to in 

section 8, shall not have the effect of depriving her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus: 

Provided that where the dismissal is for any prescribed gross misconduct, the employer may, by order 

in writing communicated to the woman, deprive her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus or both. 

2
[(b) Any woman deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus, or both, or discharged or dismissed 

during or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may, within 

sixty days from the date on which order of such deprivation or discharge or dismissal is communicated to 

her, appeal to such authority as may be prescribed, and the decision of that authority on such appeal, 

whether the woman should or should not be deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus, or both, or 

discharged or dismissed shall be final.] 

(c) Nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect the provisions contained in sub-section (1). 

13. No deduction of wages in certain cases.—No deduction from the normal and usual daily wages 

of a woman entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of this Act shall be made by reason only 

of— 

(a) the nature of work assigned to her by virtue of the provisions contained in sub-section (3) of 

section 4; or 

(b) breaks for nursing the child allowed to her under the provisions of section 11. 

 14. Appointment of Inspectors.—The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official 

Gazette, appoint such officers as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act and may define 

the local limits of the jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their functions under this Act. 

15. Powers and duties of Inspectors.—An Inspector may, subject to such restrictions or conditions 

as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the following powers, namely:— 

(a) enter at all reasonable times with such assistants, if any, being persons in the service of the 

Government or any local or other public authority, as he thinks fit, any premises or place where 

woman are employed or work is given to them in an establishment, for the purposes of examining any 

registers, records and notices required to be kept or exhibited by or under this Act and required their 

production for inspection; 

(b) examine any person whom he finds in any premises or place and who, he has reasonable 

cause to believe, is employed in the establishment: 

                                                           
1. Ins. by Act 6 of 2017, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-7-2017). 

2. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 7, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  



8 

Provided that no person shall be compelled under this section to answer any question or give any 

evidence tending to incriminate himself; 

(c) require the employer to give information regarding the names and addresses of women 

employed, payments made to them, and applications or notices received from them under this Act; 

and 

(d) take copies of any registered and records or notices or any portions thereof. 

16. Inspectors to be public servants.—Every Inspector appointed under this Act shall be deemed to 

be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). 

17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made.—
1
[(1) Any woman claiming that— 

(a) maternity benefit or any other amount to which she is entitled under this Act and any person 

claiming that payment due under section 7 has been improperly withheld; 

(b) her employer has discharged or dismissed her during or on account of her absence from work 

in accordance with the provisions of this Act, 

may make a complaint to the Inspector. 

(2) The Inspector may, of his own motion or on receipt of a complaint referred to in sub-section (1), 

make an inquiry or cause an inquiry to be made and if satisfied that— 

(a) payment has been wrongfully withheld, may direct the payment to be made in accordance 

with his orders; 

(b) she has been discharged or dismissed during or on account of her absence from work in 

accordance with the provisions of this Act, may pass such orders as are just and proper according to 

the circumstances of the case.] 

(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Inspector under sub-section (2) may, within thirty 

days from the date on which such decision is communicated to such persons, appeal to the prescribed 

authority. 

(4) The decision of the prescribed authority where an appeal has been preferred to it under                      

sub-section (3) or of the Inspector where no such appeal has been preferred, shall be final. 
2
[(5) Any amount payable under this section shall be recoverable by the Collector on a certificate 

issued for that amount by the Inspector as an arrear of land revenue.] 

 18. Forfeiture of maternity benefit.—If a woman works in any establishment after she has been 

permitted by her employer to absent herself under the provisions of section 6 for any period during such 

authorised absence, she shall forfeit her claim to the maternity benefit for such period. 

 19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited.—An abstract of the provisions of this 

Act and the rules made thereunder in the language or languages of the locality shall be exhibited in a 

conspicuous place by the employer in every part of the establishment in which women are employed. 

 20. Registers, etc.—Every employer shall prepare and maintain such registers, records and                

muster-rolls and in such manner as may be prescribed. 

3
[21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer.—(1) If any employer fails to pay any amount 

of maternity benefit to a woman entitled under this Act or discharges or dismisses such woman during or 

on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, he shall be punishable 

with imprisonment which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to one year and with 

fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to five thousand rupees: 

Provided that the court may, for sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of 

imprisonment for a lesser term or fine only in lieu of imprisonment. 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 8, for sub-sections (1) and (2) (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for sub-section (5) (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).   
3. Subs. by s. 9, ibid for section 21 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  



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(2) If any employer contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he shall, if no 

other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act for such contravention, be punishable with 

imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or 

with both: 

Provided that where the contravention is of any provision regarding maternity benefit or regarding 

payment of any other amount and such maternity benefit or amount has not already been recovered, the 

court shall, in addition, recover such maternity benefit or amount as if it were a fine and pay the same to 

the person entitled thereto.] 

 22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.—Whoever fails to produce on demand by the Inspector any 

register or document in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder or conceals 

or prevents any person from appearing before or being examined by an Inspector shall be punishable with 

imprisonment 
1
[which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees], or 

with both. 

2
[23. Cognizance of offences.—(1) Any aggrieved woman, an office-bearer of a trade union 

registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926) of which such woman is a member or a 

voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or an Inspector, 

may file a complaint regarding the commission of an offence under this Act in any court of competent 

jurisdiction and no such complaint shall be filed after the expiry of one year from the date on which the 

offence is alleged to have been committed. 

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any 

offence under this Act]. 

 24. Protection of action taken in good faith.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall 

lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this 

Act or of any rule or order made thereunder. 

25. Power of Central Government to give directions.—The Central Government may give such 

directions as it may deem necessary to a State Government regarding the carrying into execution of the 

provisions of this Act and the State Government shall comply with such directions. 

26. Power to exempt establishments.—If the appropriate Government is satisfied that having regard 

to an establishment or a class of establishments providing for the grant of benefits which are not less 

favourable than those provided in this Act, it is necessary so to do, it may, by notification in the Official 

Gazette, exempt, subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, 

the establishment or class of establishments from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act 

or of any rule made thereunder. 

27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.—(1) The provisions of this Act shall 

have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law or in the terms of 

any award, agreement or contract of service, whether made before or after the coming into force of this 

Act: 

Provided that where under any such award, agreement, contract of service or otherwise, a woman is 

entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more favourable to her than those to which she 

would be entitled under this Act, the woman shall continue to be entitled to the more favourable benefits 

in respect of that matter, notwithstanding that she is entitled to receive benefits in respect of other matters 

under this Act. 

(2) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to preclude a woman from entering into an 

agreement with her employer for granting her rights or privileges in respect of any matter which are more 

favourable to her than those to which she would be entitled under this Act. 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 10, for “which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred                          

rupees” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  

2. Subs. by s. 11, ibid., for section 23 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).  



10 

 28. Power to make rules.—(1) The appropriate Government may, subject to the condition of 

previous publication and by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes 

of this Act. 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 

provide for— 

(a) the preparation and maintenance of registers, records and muster-rolls; 

(b) the exercise of powers (including the inspection of establishments and the performance of 

duties by Inspectors for the purposes of this Act; 

(c) the method of payment of maternity benefit and other benefits under this Act in so far as 

provision has not been made therefor in this Act; 

(d) the form of notices under section 6; 

(e) the nature of proof required under the provisions of this Act; 

(f) the duration of nursing breaks referred to in section 11; 

(g) acts which may constitute gross misconduct for purposes of section 12; 

(h) the authority to which an appeal under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 12 shall lie; the 

form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the procedure to be followed in disposal 

thereof; 

(i) the authority to which an appeal shall lie against the decision of the Inspector under section 17; 

the form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the procedure to be followed in disposal 

thereof; 

(j) the form and manner in which complaints may be made to Inspectors under sub-section (1) of 

section 17 and the procedure to be followed by them when making inquiries or causing inquiries to be 

made under sub-section (2) of that section; 

(k) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed. 

(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this section shall be laid as soon as may be 

after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days 

which may be comprised in one session 
1
[or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry 

of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid,] both Houses agree 

in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule 

shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however 

that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously 

done under that rule. 

 29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951.—In section 32 of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951. 

(a) in sub-section (1), the letter and brackets “(a)” before the words “in the case of sickness”, the 

word “and” after the words “sickness allowance” and clause (b) shall be omitted; 

(b) in sub-section (2), the words “or maternity” shall be omitted. 

 30. Repeal.—On the application of this Act— 

(i) to mines, the Mines Maternity Benefit Act, 1941 (19 of 1941); and 

(ii) to factories situate in the Union territory of Delhi, the Bombay Maternity Benefit Act, 1929 

(Bom. Act VII of 1929), as in force in that territory, shall stand repealed. 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, s. 5, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).