Maternity benefit law has supremacy over service regulations: HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, will have supremacy over service regulations of a financial institution, if the same are in conflict with each other.

“Section 27(1) specifically provides that the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act will 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,” the court said, referring to the provisions of law and adding that the bank regulations being inconsistent with the provisions of the law, the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act would have an overriding effect.

By Dayanand N. Mangaonkar