Single mothers can rejoice. The online passport form now requires the name of only one parent — the mother, the father or the legal guardian. This would allow children of single parents to apply for passports for their children as well as choose the name of one parent to be printed on the passport.
A big win for women who had been fighting a battle to not have their divorced husband’s name on their child’s passport, this change in policy was recommended by a three-member committee of officials from the Ministry of Women and Child and the Ministry of External Affairs. “We are trying to review our rules so that they conform to the social necessities of the times,’’ said minister of state for External Affairs Gen. V.K Singh at a press conference held to announce the new passport rules.
The Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had been receiving requests by single mothers who wanted this rule change.
“In case of issue of passport to in-country domestically adopted children, submission of the registered adoption deed would no longer be required. In the absence of any deed to this effect, the passport applicant may give a declaration on a plain paper confirming the adoption,’’ the new rules state.
In an effort to make the whole process simpler, the ministry has also done away with the mandatory submission of the birth certificate. “The basket of options’’ for proof of date of birth has been expanded to an Aadhar Card, a Pan Card, a school leaving certificate, a driving license, election card or even a policy bond issued by the Public Life Insurance Corporation.
Those married do not need to produce their marriage certificate. And those divorced or separated need not fill in the name of their spouse. There was also no need for a divorce decree. The government has also decided to “trust’’ the citizens more. “We have removed the requirement of attesting by a notary or swearing before a First Class Magistrate,’’ said Singh.
Sadhus, have something to cheer about too. There had been requests by the spiritual in saffron to accept the name of their spiritual guru instead of their biological parents. The government has accepted the request. But they must produce one government document that has the name of their guru in lieu of their parents.
