This appeal by special leave which is directed against the judgment and order dated April 24,1974 of the Letters Patent Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Madras reversing the judgment and order dated April 19,1971 of the Single Judge of that Court passed in writ petition No.3822 of 1969 presented u/art.226 of the Constitution raises a complex but an interesting question relating to the construction of the phrases "maternity benefit........for the period of her actual absence immediately preceding and including the day of her delivery and for the six weeks immediately following that day" occurring in s.5(1) of the Maternity Benefits Act,1961