The Supreme Court has provided relief to unwed mothers in its landmark ruling allowing such mothers to become legal guardians of their children without the father's nod. The apex court has also ruled that the authorities have to issue birth certificates for children of single parents or unwed mothers, if affidavits of guardianship are furnished.
But this is only a partial relief. The job is just done. The father's name still remains an essential requirement in various cases including school admission, passport application and even job application forms. The editorial rightly points out that this provides an opportunity to errant fathers to harass the deserted mother and child by imposing conditions which are patently unfair to the woman.
To give fair treatment to unwed mothers and deserted women, it is, therefore, necessary that furnishing the father's name and details in any paperwork be made optional.