The Delhi High Court has called for a progressive change in the way educational certificates and degrees are issued to students. The court emphasized that there is “no reasonable justification” for the exclusive mention of the father’s name, sidelining the mother’s identity in academic documents. Justice C Hari Shankar remarked,
“It would be clearly retrogressive if educational certificates, degrees, and other such documents reflect the name only of the father of a candidate, eliminating the name of the mother. The names of both parents should necessarily be reflected on the body of the certificate.”
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This observation came to light as the court addressed the plea of Ritika Prasad, a law graduate from Amity Law School, previously affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). Prasad was aggrieved that her law degree showcased only her father’s name, omitting her mother’s. The court’s stance reflects a broader call for gender equality and the dismantling of outdated societal norms.
“The artificial gender-based mental distinction that we have, over ages, drawn, based on a chance chromosomal circumstance, is now all but effaced. If there is still, among us, anyone who retains that mental block, it is time he woke up and smelt the coffee,”
Justice Shankar stated, highlighting the need for societal advancement beyond gender biases.
In delivering justice to Prasad, who represented herself, the court mandated that henceforth, all student documents requiring parental details must include both the mother’s and father’s names. This directive is to be considered “mandatory and non-negotiable.” The court further instructed,
“I therefore, deem it appropriate only to direct compliance with the UGC Circular dated 6 June 2014 insofar as it requires the names of the mother and the father of the student to be mentioned on all educational certificates, degrees, and similar documents.”
Additionally, the court suggested the University Grants Commission (UGC) contemplate whether it’s necessary to include grandparents’ names or the spouse of the mother in these documents. However, Justice Shankar noted that these guidelines might need adjustments in unique situations, such as children adopted by a single parent.
The court has ordered GGSIPU to reissue Prasad’s B.A. LLB degree, this time including both her parents’ names, within two weeks. This ruling not only addresses Prasad’s individual case but also sets a precedent encouraging inclusivity and recognition of both parents in academic and legal documents.
“This Court appreciates the effort of Ms. Ritika Prasad in moving the present writ petition, which highlights a felt necessity of our times,”
concluded Justice Shankar, acknowledging the broader implications of this case for modern society. This decision marks a significant step towards gender neutrality and equality in educational and societal norms, reflecting changing attitudes and the breaking down of traditional gender roles.
