Couple harassed over inter-caste marriage gets passport
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, June 21
A day after, Tanvi Seth, complained to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj accusing passport authorities in Lucknow of refusing her passport on the pretext of her “inter-caste marriage” to a Muslim man, the couple was on Thursday issued the passports after the couple took to social media highlighting their grievances.
hello maam I type this tweet with immense faith in justice and in you and ironically with a lot of anger / hurt and agony in my heart because of the way I was treated at the Lucknow passport office at Ratan Square by Mr. Vikas Mishra the reason because I marri 1/2
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas)
Tanvi Seth who had married Anas Siddiqui 12 years ago was shocked beyond belief when the staff of the passport office Vikas Mishra asked her why she had not changed her name after marriage..
2/2 married a Muslim and not changed my name ever. He spoke to me very rudely and was loud enough for others to hear while discussing my case. I have never felt so harassed ever before. The other workers at the office acknowledged his rude demeanour.
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas)
In her letter, she alleged that the officer told her to change her surname as it was the duty of every girl after marriage.
Ma’am I never ever imagined that in a place like passport office we would have a people who are moral policing the citizens. He dint just put my passport on hold he even put my husband’s passport on hold. This is clear grudge. I was shocked at this 1/2
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas)
Seth alleged “she was harassed by the officer as she was married to a Muslim man and had not changed her surname”.
behaviour. I have never felt so insulted in the last 12 years of my marriage with my husband. It is my personal choice to choose a name I want to after marriage. This is our family matter and last thing I expected to hear at the passport office was 2/3
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas)
Seth alleged, “We hope it doesn't happen to anyone else, in 12 years of marriage, we never faced this. Later, the officials apologised and we got our passports.”
it is your duty to change your name after marriage. The person who spoke to my husband later said if your wife’s case would have come to me there wouldn’t have been issues because her papers are complete.
— Tanvi Seth (@tanvianas)
Mohammad Anas Siddiqui, husband, alleged, "I was told, I should change my religion and take 'pheras'."
MEA Secretary (CPV & OIA) D M Mulay expressing regret over the incident has sought a full report.
The incident occurred in the Lucknow Passport Seva Kendra where a Noida-based couple had come to Lucknow to get their passports.
While she had gone for a new passport her husband had to get his passport renewed. He was told to take change his religion or get his wife to change her name.
The officer not only refused them both their passports but was rude and loud making it embarrassing for the couple in the crowded passport office, complained Tanvi.
In a series of tweets to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Tanvi Seth narrated the incident and asked her to intervene.
Meanwhile, a show cause notice has been issued to officer Vikas Mishra and Ministry for External Affairs has sought a report.
