Father's name not required: HC helps out survivors' kids

CHANDIGARH: For rehabilitating the rape survivors and their children, the Punjab and Haryana high court has asked both states and Chandigarh to make it a policy at all offices, educational institutes especially, of not insisting on seeking fathers' name on any form.
The high court told the two states and the Union Territory to build one-stop centres for the regular psychological and emotional counselling of rape survivors, to help them take informed decision for the termination or continuation of any pregnancy resulting from sexual assault.
If the time limit for safe termination of pregnancy has lapsed but the survivor doesn't wish to keep the child, then CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) or similar organisation must prepare the documents for the child's quick and easy adoption on birth. If the survivor wants to keep the child, the state should render her all help like monthly allowance for child's nutrition, health, and dignified growth.
The directions were based on a survivor's petition for compensation. During the prolonged hearing, the petition's scope was enhanced to examine the proposal for rehabilitating rape survivors and their eventual children, besides improving the living conditions of shelter homes.
The schemes for financial assistance to the survivors were notified already. Advocate Tanu Bedi assisted the court as amicus curiae.
Justice Bhardwaj observed that: considering that the respondent states had not objected to the amicus' suggestions, they must implement those guidelines properly.