Tue Dec 24 14:48:52 UTC 2024: ## Bihar Teacher Takes “Maternity Leave,” Sparks Online Furor
**Vaishali, Bihar:** A male government teacher in Bihar’s Vaishali district enjoyed a week-long “maternity leave” after a technical glitch allowed him to successfully apply for and receive the leave sanctioned. The error came to light when a screenshot of the leave application, submitted through an online portal, circulated on social media.
While the teacher, Jitendra Kumar Singh, successfully secured the leave, education officer Archana Kumari clarified that the incident was a purely technical error in the leave application system. She stated that the mistake will be rectified, emphasizing that maternity leave is exclusively for women. Kumari acknowledged that while men cannot take maternity leave, they are entitled to paternity leave (“pitritva avakash”).
The incident has raised concerns about the reliability of the online leave application system, with some teachers reporting issues involving incorrect deduction of earned leave. Authorities are investigating the matter and working to address the technical flaws that allowed Singh to receive the leave.
First Piper 