Karnataka: Court unites couple seeking divorce over naming baby

It is not unusual for couples to argue over naming their baby, but it rarely ends up in court.

But a couple from India’s southern state of Karnataka found themselves needing the courts to intervene following a three year fight over their son’s name.

In fact, the fight had got so nasty the couple were seeking a divorce.

It all began back in 2021, when the woman – who has not been named – gave birth to a boy and went to her parents’ home for a few weeks. It is common for women in India to move to their parents’ house after having a child to rest and recover.

Normally, the husband would come to bring both the mother and the baby back to their home.

But when the then-21-year-old woman refused to accept the name her husband had chosen for their son, he was upset – and never went to bring her back.

Instead, she chose the name Adi for her child – made up of the first letter of her name, and part of her husband’s, according to Hunsur’s assistant public prosecutor Sowmya MN.

Months turned into years and the woman, who was still at her parents’ house, approached the local court in Hunsur town of the state’s Mysuru district seeking financial support from her husband.

Her lawyer MR Harish told BBC Hindi that the the dispute had now escalated to the point where she was seeking a divorce.

“She wanted maintenance money as she is a home-maker,” he said.

The case was initially filed in a local court but later transferred to the People’s court, also known as the Lok Adalat, which handle cases which can be solved through mediation.

Despite multiple suggestions from judges, the couple remained firm – until they finally agreed on a name chosen by the court.

The child is now named Aryavardhana, Ms Sowmya says, which means “of nobility”.

The couple then exchanged garlands, a symbol of acceptance as per Indian tradition, and apparently left happily to continue their marriage.

This is not the only time in recent years that an Indian court has had to get involved when it comes to naming a child.

Last September, a child in Kerala was refused entry to school after it was revealed her birth certificate was blank.

Her mother approached the court explaining she had tried to get the now four-year-old registered, but officials refused to complete the form because the father – from whom she was separated – was not present.

In its order, the high court directed the birth registration office to accept the name suggested by the mother and add the father’s name.