PTC Web Desk: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has called for a law to make paid paternity leave a legal right in India while stressing the need for shared responsibility in childcare.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha said that fathers should not be forced to choose between their careers and family responsibilities. He said it was an essential reform to support both the mother and the newborn during and after childbirth.

Raghav Chadha said while both parents are congratulated when a child is born, the burden of care largely falls on the mother. 'Fathers must play an equal role, especially during the early stages of a child’s life," he added.

The AAP MP also emphasised that a husband’s presence after childbirth is important not just for emotional support but also for actively sharing parenting duties.

Earlier, the Supreme Court of India had echoed similar views. A Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed that although a mother’s role in a child’s upbringing is vital, a father’s role is equally significant and should not be overlooked. The court noted that parenting is a shared responsibility and fathers should be given the opportunity to be actively involved in a child’s early development.

Currently, India does not have a law mandating paternity leave in the private sector. While maternity leave is regulated under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, there is no similar provision for fathers.

Chadha also highlighted global practices, noting that countries such as Sweden, Iceland and Japan provide paternity leave ranging from 90 days to as much as 52 weeks. He added that with nearly 90 per cent of India’s workforce employed in the private sector, most fathers currently do not have access to such benefits.