HC dismisses petition challenging rights of children of women marrying non-Sikkimese men

GANGTOK: (Apr 12) The Sikkim High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the restrictions on property rights and issuance of Certificate of Identification (COI) to children of Sikkimese women married to men from outside the state.

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai last week dismissed a writ petition challenging the state government notification issued in 2018 which barred the children of Sikkimese women married to non-Sikkimese men from inheriting maternal property or receiving COI.

The petitioners, Pushpa Mishra and more than 100 other women, had also prayed to the Sikkim HC to issue directions to the state government to allow their children eligibility for COI, access to government employment opportunities, and inheritance rights over immovable property.