Shimla, June 20 -- In a judgment aimed at strengthening parental rights of government employees, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the State Government to treat the leave availed by a regularised Assistant Professor as paternity leave.

The court has also ordered the State to introduce a clear policy granting paternity leave to male contractual employees.

"Every male employee, whether on regular or contractual basis, has a fundamental right to paternity leave," said the High Court.

Justice Sandeep Sharma, while passing the judgment in CWP No. 4271 of 2025 (Munish Patial State of HP and others), quashed the rejection of paternity leave by the Directorate of Technical Education and observed.

"Every female and male employee, wh...