Administrative law dictates that name changes on official documents require adherence to established protocols; clerical errors may be corrected, but substantive changes must follow due process.

JUDGMENT

The petitioner has filed the captioned writ petition contending that though in Ext.P4 S.S.L.C. certificate, his name was shown as ARAFA A., the said certificate requires to be corrected in view of the change of name carried out by him as YAZER A. He contends that such a request made by him stood rejected by Ext.P3 communication issued by the 3^rd respondent stating that at the maximum, the change of name carried out through the Gazette notification can be kept along with the original S.S.L.C. certificate and the S.S.L.C. certificate cannot be individually corrected.

2. The learned Government Pleader would place considerable reliance on Ext.P2 Government Order dated 14.03.1984 wherein, it is stated as above. She would also seek to place reliance on provisions of the KER 17650826647ce49c'> Kerala Education Rules, 1959 ( )- Rule 3 Chapter VI, as per which only clerical errors could be corrected and no change in the name as such can be carried out in the S.S.L.C. certificate. A perusal of Ext.P2, referred to as above would show that except in cases of clerical error, the correction requires to be carried out through Gazette notification, and the Gazette notification requires to be attached along with the S.S.L.C. certificate. In the light of Ext.P2, the finding in Ext.P3 cannot be said to be incorrect or arbitrary.

3. At the same time, this Court notices that even in driving licence, Aadhar Card etc. of the petitioner, his name is mentioned as YAZER A., as contended by him.

In such circumstances, this writ petition would stand disposed of directing the petitioner to file an appropriate representation to the competent among the respondents pointing out the afore, and directing the respondents to consider the same and pass appropriate orders also taking note of the fact that Ext.P2 G.O. has been issued as early as in the year of 1984, within a period of six months from the date of a receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

Sd/-