Legal Battle Over Birth Date Correction: Court’s Stand on Educational Records

The case at hand revolves around a dispute concerning the correction of a date of birth recorded in school and examination board records. The respondent, a student, sought to have their birth date changed from 30.5.1992 to 23.7.1991 based on a subsequently obtained birth certificate. The High Court of Kerala ruled in favor of the respondent, allowing the change, which was then challenged by the appellant Board in the Supreme Court.

Petitioner’s Argument

The petitioner, the appellant Board, argued that changes in date of birth should only be allowed under specific circumstances defined by the Byelaws, and that the respondent had ample opportunity to correct the record before their examination results were declared. The Board contended that allowing such changes at a later stage would undermine the integrity of academic records.

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Respondent’s Argument

The respondent countered that their birth certificate, which was obtained later, reflected their actual date of birth and should be considered for correction. They further argued that educational institutions should allow changes based on official government records.

Court’s Observations and Judgment

The Court held that, while accuracy in academic records is crucial, procedural limitations cannot be imposed in a manner that denies a person’s right to correct an error. The Court emphasized that public records such as birth certificates carry significant evidentiary value and should not be disregarded unless there is a strong reason to doubt their authenticity.

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The judgment underscored the principle that procedural rules should not become obstacles in the way of substantive justice. The appeal by the Board was dismissed, and the correction in the respondent’s birth record was allowed to stand.

This ruling highlights the balance that courts must maintain between upholding institutional regulations and ensuring individuals’ rights to accurate official records.

Petitioner Name: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Respondent Name: Mohammed Shafeek.
Judgment By: Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud.
Place Of Incident: Kerala, India.
Judgment Date: 03-06-2021.

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