Woman Cannot Change Name Without Husband's Permission? Read What Ministry Said

According to the reply, a married woman would be required to submit no objection certificate from husband for reverting to maiden surname to ensure that the husband is notified.

Rajya Sabha MP Saket Goakhle on Tuesday shared a written response by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to his question in Parliament, where it is stated that a it is compulsory for a woman to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or permission from her husband to drop their husband's surname or to return to their maiden name before they were married.

According to the reply, a married woman would be required to submit no objection certificate from husband for reverting to maiden surname to ensure that the husband is notified. This is said to be done to ascertain objections or legal consequences on account of any dispute or court decree etc. before notifying the change of name in the Gazette of India.

The Trinamool Congress MP on Tuesday slammed the government and called this notification shamelessly sexist and misogynist.

"This is a whole new level of shameless sexism & misogyny by the Modi Govt. I asked the Govt in Parliament as to why a rule was introduced making it compulsory for women to get "NOC or permission from husband" if they wish to revert to their maiden name.

Govt's justification? They made it compulsory for the purpose of 'notifying the spouse to ascertain objections or legal consequences on account of any dispute.'

This explanation makes zero sense. When the name change is "notified" in the Gazette, it is "notified" to the spouse automatically.

No clear answer on why on EARTH is the husband's "permission" required for a woman to change her own name," Goakhle shared on his X account..

Goakhle had asked the the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs state: "(a) whether a change was notified in the guidelines issued by Controller of Publications under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs regarding the required procedure for publishing a notification in the Gazette of India for married women who wish to officially change their surname and revert to their maiden name, in this context; and
(b) the grounds for introducing the revised requirement of NOC from the husband that he has no objection if the woman wishes to use her maiden surname?"

The ministry replied that the Department of Publication had comprehensively revised the guidelines in 2014 for simplifying the procedure for processing of applications, including change of name, for notification in the Gazette of India.

"Clarifications as per need, including requirements for reverting to maiden surname, have been issued from time to time through web-link on the official website of the Department for information and convenience of the general public. Change in name involves change in identity of a person, which requires close scrutiny to minimize or avoid any possible misuse or litigation and to maintain the sanctity of gazette notifications. Minimum essential requirements have therefore been kept for processing the change of name applications. The requirement of no objection from husband for reverting to maiden surname has been specified for notifying the spouse to ascertain objections or legal consequences on account of any dispute or court decree etc. before notifying the change of name in the Gazette of India," the answer by the ministry read.