( 1 ) RULE. Learned Advocate Mr. Hemang Raval waives service of Rule on behalf of respondent No. 1 and Ms. Kiran Pandey learned A. G. P. , waives service of Rule on behalf of respondent No. 2. Respondents Nos. 3 to 5 though served have not appeared. Hence, at the request of the learned Advocates for the respective parties, the matter is taken up for final hearing today itself.

( 2 ) THE petitioner has approached this Court to seek an appropriate direction on the respondents to require them to carry out the necessary change in the school Leaving Certificate of the petitioner. It is the say of the petitioner that for generations his family has been following Christianity. However, in the birth certificate his caste is shown as Hindu Thakore. According to the petitioner, on noticing this discrepancy in the certificate he approached the school authorities with a request to make necessary correction, but it was refused on the ground that after pupil left the school, it was not within the power of the school authorities to effect any change in the School Leaving Certificate. In the circumstances, the petitioner has approached this Court.

( 3 ) I have heard Ms. Sejal Vyas for the petitioner and Mr. Hemang Raval for respondent No. 1 and Ms. Kiran Pandey, learned A. G. P. , for respondent No. 2. 3. 1 It is contended by Ms. Vyas that considering the fact that the petitioner has been following the Christian faith for the last three generations, there is obvious mistake committed by the school authority in the certificate by mentioning his caste as Hindu Thakore. She has, therefore, submitted that the school authority is bound to amend this mistake since it is the authority s fault. As against that, mr. Raval has submitted that once the student has left the school, the school authority has no power to carry out any correction in the School Leaving Certificate.

( 4 ) I have carefully considered the submissions of the learned Advocates appearing for the parties. I have also closely perused the record of the petition and the necessary provisions of the Gujarat Secondary Education Regulations, 1974 (hereinafter referred to as the "regulations") as also the provisions of the registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as the "registration Act" ). The Regulations have been framed by respondent No. 1 in exercise of powers conferred by Sec. 54 of the Gujarat Secondary Education act, 1972 (the "act" for short ). They have come into force with effect from 16th March, 1974. The Regulations have been framed for the administration and governance of secondary schools in the State. Chapter V of the Regulations contains provisions with regard to admissions, test, examinations, health and discipline of students. It includes Regulation 12 (A ). It pertains to change of the birth date, name, etc. , in the school register.

* Clause 1 of Regulation 12 (A) states that without obtaining prior permission in writing, no change in relation to the entries made in the school register can be effected. * Clause 2 states that except applications pertaining to the student actually attending the school, no application for change in the register shall be accepted. * Clause 3 requires the guardian or the parent of the student to sign the application which should be certified as such by the Principal of the school. * Clause 4 prescribes that for effecting the change in the birth date, certain documents such as (a) Extract of the birth register; (b) Certificate of the vaccination, (c) Certified copy of the certificate of Baptism, if the student was Christian, (d) Affidavit of the parents or the guardian, sworn before the learned Magistrate or any other authentic document can be accepted as corroborating proof. * Clause 5 relates to change in the name. It also relates to the change in the surname, name of the father, and place of birth and lastly religion and caste. So far as the changes other than the name are concerned, they can