- The competent authority may grant maternity leave to a female officer for a period which may extend upto six months at a stretch subject to a maximum of fifteen months during the entire period of her service:Provided that the maternity leave to a female officer having two or more surviving children shall be granted for a maximum period of three months at a stretch:Provided further that the leave may be granted once during the service to a childless female officer for adopting a child who is below one year age through a proper legal process and on submission of a certified true copy of adoption deed to the corporation and the maximum period of leave shall be twelve weeks or till the child attains the age of one year, whichever is earlier:Provided also that leave of maximum twelve weeks may be granted once during the service to a childless female commissioning mother (a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in any other woman) from the date of birth of the child, and such leave may be availed for one child till the child attains the age of one year.]
