Maatr Sparsh An Initiative By Avyaan Foundation vs Union Of India 2025 INSC 302 - Rights Of Breast Feeding Women

Constitution of India - Article 21, 51A(e) -Breast Feeding - The practice of breast- feeding in public places and at workplaces is not stigmatized- Breast-feeding is an integral component of a child’s right to life, survival, and development to the highest attainable standard of health. It is an integral part of a woman’s reproductive process and is essential for the health and well-being of both mother and the child - As the right of a child to be breast-fed is inextricably linked with the mother, she also has the right to breast-feed her child- State has the obligation to ensure adequate facilities and environment to facilitate mothers to breast-feed their children. Such a right and the obligation emanate from Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the foundational principle of ‘the best interest of the child’ as enshrined in international law as well as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015- Directions issued: Advisory for setting up of the facilities at public places is for the purpose of ensuring privacy and comfort of nursing mothers, who have infants, and for the benefit of infants- Directed Union of India to incorporate the aforesaid advisory in the form of a reminder communication to the Chief Secretary/Administrator of all State Governments/ Union Territories- in the existing public places as far as practicable, the States/Union Territories should ensure that the aforesaid directions are given effect to- Insofar as the public buildings which are at the stage of planning and construction, it may ensure that sufficient space is reserved for the purposes in the form of child- care/nursing rooms.