Now, mentioning father's name not mandatory in PAN application
What's the story
In an empowering move, the government is set to make mentioning father's name not-mandatory when applying for a new PAN card.
This will be a huge relief for the children of single mothers or divorced/separated women who don't wish to name their husbands in the application.
The proposed draft amendments, along with comments and suggestions, will be taken up after September 17, said officials.
Initiative
Maneka Gandhi had written to Finance Ministry proposing the change
Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi had reportedly written to the Finance Ministry in July asking for amending Income-tax Rule 114 (Application for allotment of a PAN).
The rule gives a choice of whose name shall be displayed in the laminated PAN card but makes it compulsory to mention the father's name in the application forms No. 49A and No. 49AA.
Change
"Important to give option to not mention ex-husband's name"
Gandhi insisted that this compulsion creates trouble for many applicants of single mothers or even divorced/separated women.
"It's important to give them the option of not having to mention names of their ex-husbands on the statuary applications before different government authorities," she emphasized.
This applies to single women who're adopting children, Gandhi said, adding "my ministry is giving priority to such cases."
Details
Notification says "amendment in PAN application forms is proposed"
Meanwhile a draft notification has been issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, under Ministry of Finance, responsible for administration of direct tax laws through the I-T Department.
The notification says, "Mentioning mother's name shall be mandatory in cases where father's name isn't furnished, and mother is the single parent."
"An amendment in PAN application forms is proposed to provide that," it added.
Information
"Initiative will help prevent obstruction by men who create nuisance"
Meanwhile, women activists like Mariam Dhawale have welcomed this development, saying, it'll be a powerful move, if implemented. They said they've been prodding the I-T department to bring this amendment since long. Dhawale said this initiative will help "prevent obstruction by men who create nuisance."