Mumbai: In a significant and progressive ruling, the Bombay High Court has held that a child raised solely by her mother cannot be compelled to carry her father’s surname and caste identity merely because such practice was once considered mandatory. The court granted permission to a 12-year-old girl to change her name and caste entry in school records. The minor had approached the court seeking to replace her caste entry from ‘Maratha’ to ‘Scheduled Caste’, along with changing her surname, as she has been brought up entirely by her mother. School Had Earlier Rejected the Request The girl’s request had earlier been rejected by school authorities, who cited provisions of the Secondary School Code, stating that such changes were not permissible under existing norms. However, the B...