Name changes in educational certificates require adherence to reasonable procedures, allowing corrections based on legal identity documents without excessive restrictions.

ORDER:

NYAPATHY VIJAY, J.

1. The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the Proceedings issued by Respondent No.2 vide R.C.No.APOSS-14021(45)/137/2025- Exams EC-APOSS, dated 20.12.2025 rejecting the request of the Petitioner for change of his surname and his father’s surname name in S.S.C., Certificate, as illegal and arbitrary.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the Petitioner herein had passed X Class Public Examination conducted in April, 2017 by the Andhra Pradesh Open School Society (APOSS). In the S.S.C., Certificate issued to the Petitioner, the name of the Petitioner was erroneously mentioned as “Shaik Mohammed Sameer Ali” and his father’s name as “S. Mohammed Fazeel Basha”. The Petitioner states that his surname is “Mirshikari”, instead “Shaik” was prefixed to the name of the Petitioner and his father in the S.S.C., Certificate and sought for change.

3. It is stated that the father of the Petitioner is a Government Officer belonging to Group-I Services of Andhra Pradesh and his name was recorded in his service records as “Mirshikari Fazeel Basha” and also in all other identity proofs such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card and Voter ID Card etc.,

4. As an abundant caution, the Petitioner had also got the name corrected as “Mirshikari Mohammed Sameer Ali, S/o Mirshikari Fazeel Basha” in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette published on 15.09.2023. Thereafter, the Petitioner submitted a representation enclosing the revised copies of Aadhar Cards of the Petitioner and his father to the Respondent-School and the copy of Gazette Notification for correction of his surname and the surname of his father in the S.S.C., Certificate.

5. It is stated that the said application was rejected referring to G.O.Ms.No.1263, Education Department, dated 06.05.1961 stating that corrections shall not be entertained in the original pass certificates on the basis of A.P. Gazette Notification. Hence, the present Writ Petition is filed.

6. The learned counsel for the Petitioner M/s. J. Jyothi would submit that G.O.Ms.No.1263, dated 06.05.1961 does not bar corrections in the certificates but only mentions the procedure for correction of date of birth, name, surname and father’s name etc., In support of her contention, the learned counsel for the Petitioner relied upon the Judgment of the Supreme Court in Jigya Yadav (Minor) through Guardian/Father Hari v. Central Board of Secondary Education and Others, (2021) 7 SCC 535 The learned Assistant Government Pleader for School Education would submit that the Petitioner’s S.S.C., Certificate is pertaining to the year 2017 and at this length of time, corrections are impermissible.

7. Heard the respective counsel.

8. G.O.Ms.No.1263, dated 06.05.1961 provides for mechanism for change of date of birth in a completed S.S.L.C., Certificate but not name, surname and father’s name etc. This G.O., pertains to the period wherein Government was responsible for S.S.C., Certificates and may not have relevance as the APOSS i.e., authority who issues the S.S.C., Certificate was incorporated much later under the Societies Registration Act.

9. A similar issue fell for consideration before the Supreme Court in Jigya Yadav (Minor) through Guardian/Father Hari v. Central Board of Secondary Education and Others (supra), wherein the Supreme Court held that there is no reason for the CBSE to turn down such request or attach any precondition for correction of name, except reasonable period of limitation and keeping in mind the period for which the CBSE has to maintain its record under the extant regulations.

The excessive fetters for change of name