Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale criticized the BJP on Thursday regarding a recent government directive that mandates married women to procure a "permission letter" from their husbands if they intend to legally revert to their maiden names. Notably, the notification lacks a specific date.
Taking to Instagram, the Rajya Sabha MP denounced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's touted "naari shakti" (women empowerment) slogan as disingenuous, labeling the regulation as a "blatant manifestation of misogyny."
According to Gokhale, the Modi administration's directive stipulates that women desiring a name change must furnish either: (a) a copy of their divorce decree or (b) a "permission letter" issued by their husbands.
Elaborating further, the TMC MP highlighted that altering one's name necessitates a Gazette notification. However, under these new guidelines, women, including those separated or simply preferring their maiden surnames over their husbands', must present one of the aforementioned documents.
Expressing his disdain, Gokhale disclosed his communication with the Controller of Publications to ascertain the rationale behind the implementation of these purportedly "misogynistic rules."
Questioning the necessity of "husband's permission" for a woman to exercise her autonomy in selecting her own name, he pledged to employ his parliamentary role to advocate for the annulment of this misogynistic decree.
CHALLENGE TO THE MAIDEN SURNAME RULE IN COURT
Additionally, a woman has challenged the government's notification in the Delhi High Court, seeking the Centre's response.
In her plea, the woman, who is undergoing divorce proceedings, contended that the directive encroaches upon her right to "autonomy and privacy" and reflects inherent "gender bias."
Identified as Divya Modi, she adopted the name Divya Modi Tongya after marriage. Divya argued that the notification unjustly restricts her ability to revert to her maiden surname.
Furthermore, she asserted that the rule unreasonably restricts freedom of expression and personal identity, particularly for women, by mandating a "No-Objection Certificate (NOC)" from the husband.
