Woman went on maternity leave as a manager, returned to find her team gone and a clerk role waiting for her; Court orders employer to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation

Delhi High Court has ordered HashiCorp to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to Rakhi Bisht, a Chartered Accountant who returned from maternity leave in 2024 to find her managerial role and reporting team gone, and was instead placed in a clerical-level treasury job. The court held that maternity protection under law covers a woman's actual duties and authority, not just her salary and title, and has directed the Centre to frame a national implementation framework within six months.