MP Raghav Chadha Pushes for Paternity Leave as a Legal Right

Rashi Rawal

7 months ago

Raghav Chadha, an AAP MP, demanded mandatory paternity leave in India, arguing it ensures shared caregiving and supports mothers’ recovery without job loss.

India’s current policy offers only 15 days for central government employees, with no legal requirement in the private sector; this follows a March 2026 Supreme Court ruling urging for broader social security legislation.

In a post on X, Chadha said, “I demanded in Parliament that PATERNITY LEAVE should be a legal right in India. When a child is born, both parents are congratulated. But caregiving responsibility falls on one. The mother. A father should not have to choose between caregiving for his newborn and keeping his job. And a mother should not have to go through childbirth & recovery without her husband’s support.”

I demanded in Parliament that PATERNITY LEAVE should be a legal right in India.

When a child is born, both parents are congratulated. But caregiving responsibility falls on one. The mother.

A father should not have to choose between caregiving for his newborn and keeping his… pic.twitter.com/sbvC0xfrGO

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 31, 2026

He further added, “Right after childbirth the woman, needs her husband’s presence the most. The husband’s caregiving responsibility towards his wife is equally important. I raised this issue in Parliament because caregiving is a shared responsibility. Our laws must reflect that.“