Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has made an important comment on paternity leave for men. The court said that like women, male employees should also get leave to take care of their children.

The court said in its decision that male employees should also be given equal leave for child care. The decision in this matter should be taken keeping in mind the issue of equality and gender discrimination. The responsibility of maintaining the family should be shared equally by the parents. Now the time has come that the state government should treat male and female employees equally.

Comments on teacher's petition

The High Court has made this remark on the petition of a private school teacher. Justice Amrita Sinha said that the government should decide on giving the benefit of 730 days of child care leave to its male employees like women. Since giving such a benefit is a policy decision of the state government, the Joint Secretary of the Finance Department has been directed to take a decision in the matter keeping in mind the issue of equality and gender discrimination.

What are the arguments in the petition?

Let us tell you that Abu Rehan, a primary school teacher in North 24 Parganas district, had requested for extension of leave to take care of his child. Abu Rehane had said in his petition that his wife had died a few months ago. He has two small children. Apart from him, there is no one to take care of the children.

Will male employees get two years of paternity leave?

Hearing Rehan's petition, the judge directed that the concerned authority should decide on his application within three months and inform him by passing a reasoned order. Rehan's lawyer Shamim Ahmed said that in 2016, the Bengal government had introduced child care leave for 30 days for its male employees, which is not enough while female employees have been given a maximum period of two years or 730 days as child care leave.