It is the social custom of the land for the wife to adopt the family name or surname of the husband, together with the designation “Mrs”. Legally, however, the wife is not obliged to use her husband’s surname and may use either her maiden name or any other surname which she bore before her marriage. In the case of wives belonging to a profession this is not unusual as far as the carrying on of their profession is concerned. The children, of course, will take the surname of the father.
A wife also includes a woman who has been married according to the rites of the Islamic or any Indian religion or a recognised customary union. The husband is not permitted to take his wife’s name, except after application to the Director-General.
