IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 10886 of 2009. [O&M] Date of Decision: 22nd September, 2010. Gurpreet Kaur & Ors. Petitioners through Mr. Kunal Dawar, Advocate Versus State of Punjab & Ors. Respondents through Mr. KDS Sidhu, Dy.A.G, Punjab. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT. 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? SURYA KANT, J. [ORAL] The petitioners are contractually appointed Lecturers who seek a direction to the respondents to grant them the benefit of maternity leave and accordingly release their salary for the period they are said to have availed the maternity leave. The question as to whether the contractually appointed Lecturers/teachers are entitled to the benefit of maternity leave, has already been answered by this Court in more than one decisions in their favour including vide order dated 29.04.2009 passed in CWP No. 16711 of 2007 [Sudha Rani & Ors. V State of Punjab & Ors. [Annexure P-4]. In this view of the matter, the writ petition is allowed to the extent that the respondents are directed to verify the claim of the petitioners and in case it is found that they have not been paid salary for the period of their maternity leave, the same shall be released to them along with simple interest @ 6% per annum within one month from the date a certified copy of this order is received. Disposed of. Dasti. September 22, 2010. ( SURYA KANT ) dinesh JUDGE