In an
interesting case at Supreme Court, the question was can a mother has right to
give the surname to the child and give the child for adoption ? In specific,
the issues before the Supreme Court were:
I. Whether
the mother, who is the only natural/legal guardian of the child after the death
of the biological father can decide the surname of the child. Can she give him
the surname of her second husband whom she remarries after the death of her
first husband and can she give the child for adoption to her husband?
II. Whether
the High Court has the power to direct the Appellant to change the surname of
the child especially when such relief was never sought by the respondents in
their petition before the trial Court?
In this
case, the appeal has been filed by the appellants challenging the judgment
passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. In this appeal, the subject matter
of dispute between the mother and the parents of the deceased father of the
child (grandparents) is the surname given to the child.
Supreme
Court opined that the direction of the High Court to include the name of the
Appellant’s husband as step-father in documents is almost cruel and mindless of
how it would impact the mental health and self-esteem of the child.
The bench of Justices Dinesh
Maheshwari And Krishna Murari stated that “the direction of the High
Court to include the name of the Appellant’s husband as step-father in
documents is almost cruel and mindless of how it would impact the mental health
and self-esteem of the child.”
The bench
stated that “A name is important as a child derives his identity from
it and a difference in name from his family would act as a constant reminder of
the factum of adoption and expose the child to unnecessary questions hindering
a smooth, natural relationship between him and his parents. There is nothing
unusual in Appellant mother, upon remarriage having given the child the surname
of her husband or even giving the child in adoption to her husband.”
While
dealing with the second issue the Supreme Court stated that relief not found on
pleadings should not be granted. If a Court considers or grants a relief for
which no prayer or pleading was made depriving the respondent of an opportunity
to oppose or resist such relief, it would lead to a miscarriage of justice.
Supreme
Court reiterated that “the mother being the only natural guardian of the
child has the right to decide the surname of the child. She also has the right
to give the child for adoption.
The Court
may have the power to intervene but only when a prayer specific to that effect
is made and such prayer must be centered on the premise that child’s interest
is the primary consideration and it outweighs all other considerations.”
In view of
the above, The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment
passed by the High Court.
The Supreme
Court ruled that the mother being the only natural guardian of the child has
the right to decide the surname of the child. She also has the right to give
the child for adoption.