Belated rectification requests for death certificates after significant delay not entertained by court.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 25-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP.No.11787 of 2026 Vediyappan, S/o Rajamani, No 147, Gopalapatty Village, Gudalur Post, haruru Taluk, Dharmapuri District ..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The District Collector Dharmapuri District, Dharmapuri

2. The Revenue Divisional officer Revenue Divisional office, haruru, Dharmapuri District, 3. The Tahsildar Haruru Taluk, Dharmapuri District, 4. The Registrar of Birth and Death, Veerappanaickanpatti Village Panchayath, harur Taluk, Dharmapuri District, ..Respondent(s)

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to impugned order dated 12.09.2025 issued by the 1st respondent in Na.Ka.

23824/ 2024 / Pa1 and consequently direct the respondnets to rectify the clerical and phonetic error made in the death certificate dated 12.06.2019 and further direct the respondnets to enter petitioner grandfathers correct name i.e.

Pithakanagounder in the above mentioned death certificate.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.Kathiresan For Respondent(s): Mr.T.M.Rajangam, GA

ORDER

The impugned order dated 12.09.2025 issued by the first respondent in Na.Ka. 23824/ 2024 / Pa1, is put under challenge in the present Writ Petition. Consequently, the petitioner has sought for a direction to the respondents to rectify the clerical and phonetic error made in the death certificate dated 12.06.2019 and also to direct the respondents to enter the petitioner’s grandfather’s correct name i.e. Pithakana Gounder in the above mentioned death certificate.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side. With the consent of both sides, the Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that his maternal grandfather Mr.Pithakanagounder died on 15.03.2005 but due to lack to awareness, his death was not registered at that time and thereafter, on 12.06.2019, it was registered and death certificate was issued. However, the death certificate was issued in the name of Pithakanagounder’s father’s name i.e., in the name of Mr.Kanagounder and therefore, the petitioner made a representation to the respondents on 19.08.2024 with necessary documents for which the second respondent conducted enquiry on various dates, however, the request of the petitioner was rejected by the first respondent through the impugned order dated 12.09.2025 on the ground of delayed death registration and non production of Aadhaar Card of the deceased and hence, the present Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated 12.09.2025.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that since the name of the deceased was mentioned wrongly in the death certificate, the petitioner made a representation dated 19.08.2024 by furnishing the necessary documents, namely, Sale Deed, Patta Book, Family Card, Property Tax receipt and Gas Book, which reflects the name of the deceased Pithakanagounder and hence, prayed to grant the relief as sought for by the petitioner in this Petition.

5. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate submitted that the deceased Mr.Pithakanagounder died in the year 2005 but the petitioner has registered and obtained the death certificate of Mr.Pithakanagounder belatedly in the year 2019 and he made a representation on 19.08.2024 seeking correction of his name after lapse of five years which is not acceptable and thus, prayed for dismissal of the present Writ Petition.

6. On perusal of the records, it is seen that Mr.Pithakanagounder had died in the year 2005 and the same was registered only in the year 2019 by the petitioner and obtained the death