Child has right to use mother's surname: HC

A father does not own the daughter to dictate terms and every child has a right to use his or her mother’s surname, the Delhi High Court Friday observed.The court’s observation came while hearing a pl

A father does not own the daughter to dictate terms and every child has a right to use his or her mother’s surname, the Delhi High Court Friday observed. The court’s observation came while hearing a plea by a minor girl’s father seeking direction to the authorities to reflect his name as his daughter’s surname in the documents and not her mother’s name. Justice Rekha Palli, however, declined to pass such a direction and said, “A father does not own the daughter to dictate that she should use only his surname. If the minor daughter is happy with her surname, what is your problem?” The court said every child has a right to use his/her mother’s surname if he/she wishes to.