Saket Gokhale criticizes NOC requirement for married women to keep maiden names

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale has criticized the Union government, accusing it of "shameless sexism and misogyny" after the introduction of a new rule that requires married women to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their husbands if they wish to revert to their maiden names.

In a recent session of the Rajya Sabha, Gokhale questioned the government about any changes in the guidelines issued by the Controller of Publications under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. These guidelines pertain to the procedure for publishing a notification in the Gazette of India for married women who want to change their surname back to their maiden name.

Responding to the query, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, explained that the Department of Publication had revised the guidelines in 2014 to simplify the process for name changes, including reverting to a maiden surname. Sahu noted that clarifications had been provided through the department's official website for the public's convenience.

Gokhale further inquired about the rationale behind the revised requirement for a NOC from the husband, questioning its necessity.

Sahu responded by stating that changing a name involves altering a person's identity, which requires careful scrutiny to prevent misuse or legal issues. The NOC requirement is meant to notify the spouse and address any potential objections or legal consequences before publishing the name change in the Gazette of India.

Gokhale expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's explanation, arguing that the NOC requirement made little sense, as notifying the change in the Gazette would inherently inform the spouse. He strongly criticized the need for a husband's permission for a woman to change her own name, labeling it as a new level of "shameless sexism and misogyny" by the Modi government.