The educational authorities have the discretion to correct obvious mistakes in certificates under extraordinary circumstances without undue benefit being claimed.

O R D E R

This writ petition is filed challenging the impugned order dated

06.01.2026 whereby the second respondent had refused to correct the date of birth of the petitioner in his 10^th standard and 12^th standard mark sheets.

2. According to the petitioner, the petitioner was born on 25.12.1996 whereas a wrong entry was given by the parents of the petitioner as 25.01.1995. The birth certificate issued by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation categorically contains the name of the petitioner as ‘VIJAY’, the name of the father as ‘VEERAMUTHU’ and the name of the mother as ‘SEETHA’ and it can be seen that the date of birth as 25-12-1996. The petitioner is now applying for job opportunities abroad and since there is an issue with reference to difference in date in the Educational Certificates as well as the date of birth, the petitioner is facing the problem and therefore, he requested the educational authorities to correct the obvious mistake.

3. According to the Learned Counsel for the petitioner, his case is covered under G.O.Ms.177, dated 23.12.2021, whereby the Government had permitted the correction of obvious absurd entries. In this case, the petitioner being a minor and the parents belonging the poor strata of the society, did not think about the implications of giving date of birth recklessly without verifying the birth certificate.

4. Per contra, Mr.A.M.Ayyadurai, the Learned Government Advocate taking notice on behalf of the respondents 1 to 4 submits that as per the Rules, the Educational Authorities have power to correct the certificate only during the period in which the petitioner is undergoing the education, once he has completed his studies, there is no scope for the Educational Authorities to correct the date of birth and the petitioner has to approach the competent Civil Court.

5. I have considered the rival submissions made on either side and perused the material records of the case.

6. There can be no exception to the arguments made by the learned Government Advocate on behalf the respondents. However, in this case, the petitioner is not seeking any government employment nor he is not seeking with correction of date of birth for the purpose of getting any additional service benefits. When persons like the petitioner intend to go abroad and to earn foreign exchange for the Country in search of their own livelihood and for the betterment of this Country, every authority can do their best to lend a helping hand.

7. In that view of the matter, where it is an obvious and innocuous mistake that happened during the admission of the petitioner and no undue benefits being claimed by the petitioner, in the specific factual background, I am of the view that this case can be treated as an extraordinary situation and the Educational Authorities, namely the second respondent, can come to the rescue of the petitioner.

8. Accordingly, this writ petition is allowed on the following terms:

(i) The impugned order dated 06.01.2026 bearing reference No.018469B5(2)/2025 stands set aside.

(ii) The second respondent shall reconsider the application of the petitioner and correct the date of birth as per the birth certificate issued by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation in C.A.No.2190/E3/2000 bearing No.98198 and correct the date of birth is 25-12-1996 in the 10^th standard and the 12^th standard mark sheets, either by making an endorsement in the same mark sheets or by reissuing the marksheet afresh.

(iii) Once the 10^th and 12^th Standard Mark sheets are issued, it will be open for the petitioner to approach the very same school authorities for correction in the transfer certificates.

(iv) The said exercise shall be completed within a period of four (4)

weeks from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order without waiting for the certified copy of this order.

There shall