Delhi HC Rules Maternity Protection Covers Equivalent Role Beyond Pay

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a woman returning from maternity leave is entitled to be restored to her previous role or a substantially equivalent position, holding that professional protection extends beyond salary and job title to include duties, authority, and career progression. Justice Sachin Datta delivered the judgment on August 31, 2026, in a case brought by chartered accountant Rakhi Bisht against her former employer, HashiCorp. Bisht had joined the company as Manager, Accounting in June 2022 with a monthly salary of 2.6 lakh rupees. After informing the company of her pregnancy in May 2023, she was moved to another team and took maternity leave in December 2023. Upon returning in July 2024, she alleged that her previous managerial role had been filled and she was assigned to the Treasury Department. She claimed the new work was substantially inferior, largely clerical in nature, and excluded her from managerial meetings and responsibilities, while male colleagues were promoted. HashiCorp denied demoting her, arguing that her designation, salary, and seniority remained unchanged and that the reassignment was due to organizational restructuring.