JAGATSINGHPUR: In violation of a Supreme Court ruling, a six-year-old girl was denied admission to an upper primary school in Jagatsinghpur district as her mother did not mention the name of her father in the application form. The incident occurred last week and the district administration has called for an inquiry into the allegation.
Sources said one Prasanna Khanth of Mallasahi village under Kujang police limits had an affair with a woman of the same village in 2008.
After learning that she had conceived, Prasanna deserted her. The woman then approached Prasanna’s family members for marriage but they suggested her to opt for abortion. She, however, decided not to abort her pregnancy and gave birth to a girl child a year later.
Last week, she applied for admission of her daughter at Subhadra Mahatab Upper Primary School in the village, but the application was rejected as she did not mention Prasanna’s name in it.
The school authorities reasoned that the name of girl’s biological father is mandatory for admission.
The woman and her father, Balaram, approached the district administration for intervention.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had ruled that an unwed mother does not have to reveal the name of the father for claiming guardianship of a child. In doing so, the court clarified that a mother can be appointed sole legal guardian of a child without the consent of the father.
Collector Bijay Ketan Upadhaya said after receiving the complaint from the girl’s mother, he has asked the Block Education Officer of Kujang to ensure that the girl gets admission to the school.
On Friday, Block Education Officer Krutibas Barik said the Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator (CRCC) and school headmaster have been directed to immediately admit the girl to the school.