Bharat Global Time | June 1, 2025
By BGTime News Desk
New Delhi — In what could be a defining moment for working women across India, especially those serving in the judiciary, a sitting woman judge has approached the Supreme Court after being denied her rightful childcare leave — and the country is now watching.
Kashika M. Prasad, an Additional District Judge (ADJ) in Jharkhand, has petitioned the apex court, seeking justice not just for herself as a single mother, but for every woman who has had to choose between her child and her career.
The Case That’s Stirring the Nation
Judge Kashika Prasad had applied for six months of childcare leave — a benefit she is legally entitled to under judicial service rules. Her leave period was to cover June to December 2025, aligning with school holidays and crucial bonding time with her young child.
Shockingly, her request was rejected without any explanation.
Let that sink in — a woman judge, with a spotless service record, disposing 4,600+ cases in just two-and-a-half years, was told she couldn’t take time off to care for her child. No reason. No discussion. Just a ‘no’.
Frustrated and without timely recourse from the Jharkhand High Court, which is currently on summer break, she turned to the Supreme Court — not just as a judge, but as a mother.
SC Steps In: A Ray of Hope
Taking note of the urgency and sensitivity of the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih issued notices to both the Jharkhand High Court and the state government.
The Supreme Court said it aims to take up the matter “early next week”, showing that it understands the gravity of denying such a basic, compassionate leave request.
“This matter deserves immediate attention. We are inclined to hear and dispose of it at the earliest,” the bench observed.
The fact that the highest court in the land is now involved speaks volumes about the need to reassess how our systems treat women, especially single parents.
A Judge, A Mother, A Reality
This isn’t just a story about a government employee seeking time off.
It’s about the ongoing struggle faced by working mothers in positions of responsibility. Judge Prasad isn’t asking for special treatment — she’s asking for what’s legally and ethically fair.
As her petition highlights, she is a single parent and belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Her case adds another layer to the larger debate: intersectional discrimination in workplaces, especially within systems that should lead by example.
What the Law Says vs What Happened
Under judicial service rules, women judges are entitled to up to 730 days of childcare leave during their service tenure.
So why was she denied?
There’s no clear answer yet. But legal experts argue this could be a violation of constitutional principles, especially Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination).
This case could pave the way for a more humane interpretation of leave policies — especially after the Supreme Court’s recent landmark verdict in Deepika Singh v. Central Administrative Tribunal, where it expanded the concept of “family” to include single parents and non-traditional families.
Public Reaction: Sympathy, Support, and a Demand for Change
The public response online has been swift and largely supportive.
On social media, hashtags like #SupportJudgeKashika and #ChildcareIsNotAFavor are trending, with thousands calling for more compassionate HR and judiciary policies.
Lawyers, judges, civil rights activists, and working mothers are all asking the same question:
If a sitting judge can be denied this, what happens to the average woman working in a regular office or government post?
Why This Matters Beyond One Case
This is not just about one woman.
This is about a larger systemic blind spot: the failure to support working mothers in the judiciary, one of the most respected institutions in the country.
It’s also about transparency, accountability, and the urgent need for gender-sensitive reforms in our court systems.
Final Word from Bharat Global Time
Judge Kashika Prasad’s courage to fight this battle in the highest court shows that even the most powerful roles don’t shield women from systemic bias.
But maybe, just maybe, her fight will become the turning point we needed — for every woman, every mother, every judge who has been made to feel that caregiving is a professional weakness.
