24. (1) A pregnant woman employee may, by seven clear days’ notice in writing, require her employer to relieve her from duty for a period not exceeding six weeks preceding the expected date of delivery.
(2) On receipt of the notice the employer shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), permit such employee to remain absent from duty for a period of six weeks ending with the expected date of her delivery.
(3) (a) On receipt of the notice, the employer may require such employee to be examined at his cost by a lady doctor, if she so desires, or, otherwise, by any qualified medical practitioner or a midwife.
(b) If the woman employee —
(i) refuses to submit herself to medical examination ; or
(ii) on such examination is found not pregnant, or not likely to be delivered of a child within six weeks of the date from which permission for absence from duty is desired,
the employer may refuse to relieve her from duty, so however that the employee, if found pregnant, shall be allowed to remain absent from duty for a period of six weeks prior to the expected date of her delivery.
(2) On receipt of the notice the employer shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), permit such employee to remain absent from duty for a period of six weeks ending with the expected date of her delivery.
(3) (a) On receipt of the notice, the employer may require such employee to be examined at his cost by a lady doctor, if she so desires, or, otherwise, by any qualified medical practitioner or a midwife.
(b) If the woman employee —
(i) refuses to submit herself to medical examination ; or
(ii) on such examination is found not pregnant, or not likely to be delivered of a child within six weeks of the date from which permission for absence from duty is desired,
the employer may refuse to relieve her from duty, so however that the employee, if found pregnant, shall be allowed to remain absent from duty for a period of six weeks prior to the expected date of her delivery.
Source footnotes
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Section 1 · Short title and extentSection 2 · DefinitionsSection 3 · The provisions of the Act not to apply to certain persons, shops and commercial establishmentSection 4 · SavingsSection 4A · Register of shops and commercial establishmentsSection 4B · RegistrationSection 4C · Validity of registration certificateSection 4D · Duplicate Registration certificateIndia Code, Government of India. Text fetched 19 Oct 2026. Source metadata reports last modification: 2026-02-19. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.