New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale has slammed the Narendra Modi government over “shameless sexism and misogyny” for making it mandatory for married women to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their husbands if they wish to revert to their maiden name.In a question addressed to the Union government, Gokhale asked in Rajya Sabha “whether a change was notified in the guidelines issued by the Controller of Publications under the Ministry of Housing and 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”.To this, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs, Tokhan Sahu, said, “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 Gazette of India. Clarification 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.”In continuation, Gokhale asked, “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 name?”To this, the Union minister responded, “Change in name involves change in identity of a person, which requires close scrutiny to minimize or 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 of 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.”Taking exception to the government’s response, Gokhale said, “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.”“This is a whole new level of shameless sexism & misogyny by the Modi Govt,” he declared.This is a whole new level of shameless sexism & misogyny by the Modi GovtI 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?… pic.twitter.com/5zXWJ3ZBtq— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) July 30, 2024