IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO.20338 OF 2025 (EDN-RES)

BETWEEN:

MR. RISHIKESH SURESH AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS, S/O. T.D SURESH BABU, RESIDING AT ‘THAYAMKERIL' HOUSE, H.NO. 4/451/B, K-K ROAD, NALUKETTU P.O., KORATTY, THRISSUR DISTRICT, KERALA STATE – 680 308.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. MUHAMMED SADIQUE U K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (CBSE)

SHIKHA KENDRA, 2 COMMUNITY CENTRE, Digitally signed PREET VIHAR, NEW DELHI – 110 092, by CHANDANA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN.

B M Location: High 2. THE REGIONAL OFFICE, Court of CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (CBSE)

Karnataka DEGREE COLLEGE BUILDING, NO.57, HESARAGHATTA MAIN ROAD, CHIMNEY HILLS, CHIKKABANAVARA, BENGALURU – 560 090.

REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL OFFICER.

3. THE REGIONAL OFFICE, CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (CBSE)

NEW NO.3, OLD NO.1630 A, J. BLOCK, 15^TH MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR (WEST), CHENNAI – 600 040.

REPRESENTED BY REGIONAL OFFICER.

4. THE PRINCIPAL, JSS PUBLIC SCHOOL, NO.4/A, 14^TH MAIN, 6^TH SECTOR, HSR LAYOUT, BENGALURU – 560 102.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHAILENDRA M.R., ADV. FOR R1 TO R3;

R4 – SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)

THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DECLARE THAT THE PETITIONER IS ENTITLED TO HAVE HIS NAME CHANGED FROM RISHIKESH TO RISHIKESH SURESH IN ANNEXURE-A AND ANNEXURE-B CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE 1^ST RESPONDENT AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’

GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR

ORAL ORDER

In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs:

"a) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ or order declaring that the petitioner is entitled to have his name changed from "RISHIKESH" to "RISHIKESH SURESH" in Annexure A and Annexure B certificates issued by the 1^st respondent;

b) Issue a writ of mandamus, or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, calling for the records relating to Annexures A and B and directing respondents to effect the necessary correction of the petitioner's name in the said certificates issued by the 1^st respondent based on Annexure C (Gazette Notification) and Annexure D (representation submitted by the petitioner) within a time frame as may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court;

c) Issue other writ or order or direction and grant any such other and further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit, in the facts and circumstance of the case to do complete Justice."

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondent Nos.1 to 3 and perused the material on record. Though notice is served on respondent No.4, it has chosen to remain unrepresented and has not contested the petition.

3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that it is the grievance of the petitioner that he has changed his name from ‘Rishikesh’ to ‘Rishikesh Suresh’, which is not been entered into the records of the respondent – CBSE and as such, the petitioner is before this Court by way of the present petition. In support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner places reliance upon the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Jigya Yadav Vs. CBSE – (2021) 7 SCC 535, which was followed by this Court in the case Mr. Srinith Vs. Central Board of Secondary Education and others – W.P.No.19279/2024 dated 06.01.2023.

4. In Srinith’s case supra, this Court has held as under:

“The petitioner seeks the following prayers:

“a) Writ of mandamus or any other writ or direction directing the competent authorities at First and Second Respondents to make necessary correction in his Secondary School Examination 2020 Class 10 certificate dated 15.07.2020 vide Annexure A in place of “SRINITH” to “SRINITH SRIKRISHNA” in the interest of justice and equity.

b) Consequentially direct the Third Respondent to correct in all other earlier school records following the correction at Annexure A dated 15.07