Government resolution · Women & Child Development Department · 14.03.2024
For anyone born after 1 May 2024: own name, mother’s name, father’s name, surname
The Government resolution of 14 March 2024 makes it mandatory to record a person’s name with the mother’s name before the father’s name in birth certificates, school and property documents and other records, for people born on or after 1 May 2024.
Key points
- The name is to be written as: own name – mother’s name – father’s name – surname.
- It applies to people born after 1 May 2024.
- The documents covered include birth certificates, school admissions, all educational documents, the 7/12 extract and all property documents, service books, salary slips, ration cards and death certificates.
- Married women continue with the existing practice (own name, husband’s name, surname) and may register property in their maiden name.
What the GR says
Earlier Government decisions (1999, 2000 and 2010) required the mother’s name to be shown in a separate column in many records. To give women equal treatment and dignity, and to help children of single mothers, the Cabinet decided on 11.03.2024 that the mother’s name should be part of the person’s name itself. The GR makes it mandatory, for persons born after 01.05.2024, to record the name as own name, then mother’s name, then father’s name, then surname in:
- birth certificates;
- school admission forms;
- all educational documents;
- the 7/12 land record and all property documents;
- service books of Government and semi-Government employees;
- their salary slips;
- ration cards;
- death certificates.
The Public Health Department is to consult the Central Government about the birth and death registers. Married women continue with the present practice, and may also have property documents in their pre-marriage name. Exceptions are allowed for orphans and similar cases, and a divorced mother with custody may ask that the child’s name carry her name instead of the father’s.
What it means for societies
The GR is not specific to housing societies, but it covers “all property documents”. Over time, members and nominees born after 1 May 2024 will have names in this format. Societies should record names in the share register, share certificates and nomination records exactly as they appear in the member’s documents.
Four-page GR in Marathi. This page summarises the document for general information; it is not a translation and not legal advice. Read the document itself for its exact terms, and check whether it has since been amended or superseded.
Have a question about your society?
Write to the office with a brief description of the matter. Meetings are by prior appointment.