This government resolution (GR) issued by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra, dated March 14, 2024, mandates a significant change in how names are recorded on official documents.
Core Decision
The Government of Maharashtra has made it compulsory to record a person’s name in the following format:
[Candidate’s Name] [Mother’s Name] [Father’s Name] [Surname].
This replaces the previous practice where the mother’s name was often listed in a separate column.
Key Implementation Details
- Effective Date: This rule applies to individuals born on or after May 1, 2024.
- Purpose: The decision aims to give women equal status, foster respect for women in society, and allow children of single mothers to live with dignity.
- Affected Documents: This format must be used for:
- Birth certificates.
- School admission forms and all educational documents.
- Revenue documents, including 7/12 extracts and property papers.
- Service books and salary slips for government/semi-government employees.
- Ration cards.
- Death certificates.
Special Provisions
- Married Women: They may continue the existing practice of using their name followed by their husband’s name and surname. They also have the option to use their pre-marriage name on property documents.
- Exceptions: Exemptions are granted for orphans and similar exceptional cases regarding birth and death certificates.
- Birth/Death Registers: The Public Health Department will coordinate with the Central Government to update birth and death registration protocols to align with this format.
Historical Context
This order updates previous resolutions from 1999, 2000, and 2010 which had initially introduced the mother’s name as a separate entry or allowed for name changes in specific custody cases.
How this applies to a specific type of document, such as school records or property papers?
Implementation in Educational Documents
- School Admission Forms: The new naming format must be used on all school entrance application forms.
- Academic Records: All educational certificates, mark sheets, and related documents must follow the mandated sequence.
- General Register (Dakhalkharij): While older rules required the mother’s name in a separate column , the new mandate requires it to be integrated directly into the student’s full name.
- Leaving Certificates: When issuing a school leaving certificate, the student’s name must now include the mother’s name after the student’s first name.
Provisions for Specific Cases
- Custody Cases: If a court has granted custody to a divorced mother, she can request that the child use her name instead of the father’s name, subject to specific conditions.
- Exemptions: Orphans or individuals in similar exceptional circumstances are granted an exemption from these naming requirements for birth and death records.
Implementation in Property and Service Records
- Land & Property: This format is now mandatory for 7/12 extracts and all property-related legal documentation.
- Employment Records: For government or semi-government employees, this naming convention must be reflected in both the Service Book and monthly Salary Slips.
- Women’s Choice: Married women have the specific right to be recorded by their pre-marriage name in property documents if they choose.
Since you are currently managing student data for the 2025-2026 academic year, would you like me to help draft a formal notice for your students explaining how their names should appear based on these regulations?