THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961
ACT NO. 53 OF 1961 · Enacted on [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.
- Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- Section 2. Application of Act.
- Section 3. Definitions.
- Section 4. Employment of, or work by, women prohibited during certain periods.
- Section 5. Right to payment of maternity benefit.
- Section 5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.
- Section 5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.
- Section 6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof.
- Section 7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman.
- Section 8. Payment of medical bonus.
- Section 9. Leave for miscarriage, etc.
- Section 9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation.
- Section 10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child, miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation.
- Section 11. Nursing breaks.
- Section 12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy.
- Section 13. No deduction of wages in certain cases.
- Section 14. Appointment of Inspectors.
- Section 15. Powers and duties of Inspectors.
- Section 16. Inspectors to be public servants.
- Section 17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made.
- Section 18. Forfeiture of maternity benefits.
- Section 19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited.
- Section 20. Registers, etc.
- Section 21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer.
- Section 22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.
- Section 23. Cognizance of offences.
- Section 24. Protection of action taken in good faith.
- Section 25. Power of Central Government to give directions.
- Section 26. Power to exempt establishments.
- Section 27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.
- Section 28. Power to make rules.
- Section 29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951.
- Section 30. Repeal.
Footnotes
Page 2
- 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).
Page 3
- 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).
Page 4
- 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).
Page 5
- 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).
Page 6
- 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).
Page 7
- 1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, s. 6, for “or miscarriage” (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).
- 2. Ins. by Act 6 of 2017, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-7-2017).
- 3. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 7, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
Page 8
- 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).
Page 9
- 1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, s. 9, for section 21 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
- 2. Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for “which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees”(w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
- 3. Subs. by s. 11, ibid., for section 23 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).
Page 10
- 1. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, s. 5, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).
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