Father’s name not necessary for admission of rape-survivor’s child in Madhya Pradesh schools

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has directed school authorities not to ask the name of biological father if the child of a rape-survivor seeks admission.

Following a recommendation of the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC), the School Education Department has written to district collectors, asking them to convey this directive to the schools in their jurisdiction.

“The MPHRC has made a recommendation and we also believe that this was necessary for protecting the dignity of a rape-survivor who is a single parent. So the School Education Department has decided that schools – government or private – would not ask the name of the biological father of a rape survivor’s child,” Minister of State for School Education Deepak Joshi told a news agency.

District collectors would ensure the implementation of this instruction, he added.

“As a society, we need to protect the dignity and confidentiality of a rape victim who has to go through an intense mental agony. (Disclosing and recording) Father’s name would not be compulsory now in such cases and admission can be sought only on the basis of single mother’s name,” the minister said.

He had not heard of any other state in the country having such provision, Joshi added.