‘Muslim name hurting house hunt’: Woman moves HC for ‘ghar waapsi’
A 66-year-old woman in India has petitioned the Gujarat High Court to revert to her Christian maiden name after facing housing discrimination due to her Muslim name. The court has issued notices to the state government regarding the denial of her name change request.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing social challenges regarding religious identity and housing access in India, as well as the legal hurdles in changing personal documentation.
AHMEDABAD: A 66-year-old Vadodara woman has moved Gujarat High Court seeking to drop the Muslim name she adopted after marriage and revert to her Christian maiden name, citing social difficulties in securing housing. Upon hearing her petition, HC on Tuesday issued notices to the state govt and authorities concerned seeking reply on why her request for name change in the govt gazette was not accepted.The petitioner, a retired central govt employee and widow, was born into a Christian family but assumed a Muslim identity after marrying a Muslim man. Following her husband’s death in 2021, she left her matrimonial home and sought to reconnect with her parental roots.
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