Vadodara: A 66-year-old widow from Vadodara has approached the Gujarat High Court seeking permission to restore her Christian maiden name after alleging she faced discrimination while searching for a home because of the Muslim name she adopted after marriage.
The woman, a retired central government employee, was born into a Christian family. After marrying a Muslim man, she adopted his name. Following her husband’s death in 2021, she left her marital home and sought to live closer to her own family.
According to her petition, she faced repeated difficulty finding accommodation in non-Muslim localities because of her Muslim name. Her lawyer said these experiences led her to seek restoration of the name given to her at birth.
She first applied to have the change published in the government gazette. Authorities rejected the request, stating she could not adopt her father’s name and maiden surname without a divorce decree. Since her husband had died, she argued the decision left her without a legal route to reclaim her birth identity.
In her petition before the High Court, the woman stated her request had no connection with avoiding any civil or criminal responsibility. She said the application arose solely from the social circumstances she faced. She also informed the court she had left her husband’s home and given up all rights to his property.
Justice Nirzar Desai issued notices to the Gujarat government, the Directorate of Government Printing and Stationery, and the Government Press and Stationery. The court directed the respondents to submit their replies by August 27.
The case raises questions about legal procedures governing name restoration after the death of a spouse and the impact of identity on access to housing.
