IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 26^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.108947 OF 2025 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

DR. SNEHA D/O. SUBHASH JOSHI, AGE. 41 YEAS, OCC. PHYSIOTHERAPIST, R/O. KAIVALYA RESIDENCY, BUDHAWAR PETH, TILAKWADI, BELAGAVI.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHREEVATSA S.HEGDE, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPT. OF HOME AFFAIRS, M.S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, Digitally signed by BENGALURU.

VIJAYALAKSHMI M KANKUPPI Location: HI GH 2. STATE OF KARNATAKA, COURT OF REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, KARNATAKA DEPT. OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, M.S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU.

3. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPT. OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION, M.S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU.

4. THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, CITY CORPORATION, BELAGAVI-590001.

5. UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA, 7^TH FLOOR, MTNL EXCHANGE, GD SOMANI MARG, CUFF PARADE, COLABA, MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA-400005.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, ADDL. GOVT. ADV. FOR R1 TO R3;

SRI. CHETAN MUNNOLI, ADVOCATE FOR R4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND

227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT A) IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.4-TO PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO AMEND THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF HER SON REFLECTING THAT HE HAS ASSUMED HER NAME AS “DHRUV S/O. SNEHA JOSHI” IN PLACE OF THE FATHER’S NAME AND SURNAME HOWEVER, WITHOUT DISTURBING THE NAME OF THE FATHER IN THE RELEVANT COLUMN RECORDING THE NAME OF THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER. B) DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO PERMIT AND CARRYOUT SUCH CHANGES IN ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS SHOWING THE NAME OF THE SON OF THE PETITIONER AS ‘DHRUV S/O. SNEHA JOSHI IN ALL CONNECTED RECORDS INCLUDING SCHOOL, AADHAAR AND OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. C) PASS SUCH OTHER ORDER(S) AS THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS FIT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. THIS WRIT PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED ON 03.02.2026, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDER THIS DAY, THE COURT PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI CAV ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “PRAYER WHEREFORE, the Hon’ble court be pleased to issue a writ, a) In the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ directing the Respondent No.4-to permit the Petitioner to amend the birth certificate of her son reflecting that he has assumed her name as “Dhruv S/o. Sneha Joshi” in place of the father’s name and Surname however, without disturbing the name of the father in the relevant column recording the name of the biological father.

b) Directing the Respondents to permit and carryout such changes in all relevant documents showing the name of the son of the Petitioner as ‘Dhruv S/o. Sneha Joshi in all connected records including school, Aadhaar and other official documents.

c) Pass such other order(s) as this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the interest of justice.”

2. The facts of the case are that the petitioner’s marriage was solemnized on 13.02.2015 with one Dattadarshan Nadgoudaon as per the Hindu rituals. In the wedlock, they were blessed with a son named ‘Dhruv’ on 18.12.2015. In view of the differences between the petitioner and her husband, she started residing separately. Thereafter, she had filed M.C.No.98/2021 seeking dissolution of marriage before the Family Court, Belagavi. The marriage was dissolved by mutual consent by judgment and decree dated 21.04.2021 and the terms were settled in the said joint petition. The terms of the mutual consent were so set by the couple that while the petitioner insisted upon having the exclusive care and custody of the minor son, the husband of the petitioner refused to take any responsibility going to the extent of disowning the minor son. The terms included the liberty to the petitioner to change the name of her child. Ever since, she has been the sole caret