Authorities tasked with maintaining registers of births and deaths possess the power to correct clerical or factual errors upon verification of authentic documentary evidence consistent with official records.

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated: 02.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P(MD)No.14460 of 2026 N.Sankaran ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The Dean, Madurai Govt.Rajaji Hospital, Madurai 625 020.

2. The Commissioner, Madurai Municipal Corporation, Arignar Anna Maligai, Tallakulam, Madurai - 625 002.

3. The Sub Inspector of Police, Dindigul Railway Police Station, Dindigul District. ...Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to direct the 2nd Respondent to correct the error in the petitioners sons death certificate under Sr.No.81297 dated 14.08.2015 issued by the Respondent No.2 and mentioning his fathers name correctly i.e., the petitioners correct name as Sankaran instead of wrong entry of Sekar Under Section 15 of the Tamilnadu Registration of Births and Deaths Act who died in a Train Accident by considering the petitioners application dated 24.03.2026, within the period stipulated by this Honourable Court and pass such further or other orders as this Honble court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of this case and thus render justice.

For Petitioner :Mr.A.Haja Mohideen For R1 :Mr.R.Parthiban Government Advocate For R2 :Mr.K.K.Kannan For R3 :Mr.I.Murugesan Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

The writ petition is filed for a mandamus directing the 2^nd respondent to correct the error in the petitioner's son's death certificate in Sr.No.81297 dated 14.08.2015.

2. Upon hearing the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and perusing the materials records of the case, the grievance of the petitioner is that his son died an unnatural death in a railway accident.

Even in the accident report, it is clearly mentioned that the deceased, Ramesh, is the son of Sankaran alias Sekar. All other official documents mention the name of the father only as Sankaran. However, in the death certificate alone, the alias name has been mentioned as Sekaran. According to the petitioner, the correct name is Sankaran and not Sekaran.

3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the 2^nd respondent corporation would submit that based on the entries given, the death certificate was issued.

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

5. It is now well settled that any error in the entries relating to birth or death can be corrected by the competent authority upon verification of the relevant documents, including the death report, Aadhaar Card, and other documents filed along with the writ petition.

6. It is clear that it was the petitioner's son who died in the railway accident. The said Ramesh is the son of the petitioner Sankaran. Even though the petitioner Sankaran is also called as Sekar, in all his official records, his name is mentioned only as Sankaran.

7. In view thereof, it is only a genuine mistake of the person's present in the top spot to have given the name as Sekar and therefore, the same deserves to be corrected accordingly.

8. This writ petition is ordered on the following terms:-

i. The representation of the petitioner dated 24.03.2026 shall be taken up for enquiry by the 2nd respondent through the appropriate authority.

ii. The name of the father of the deceased mentioned as Sekar shall be corrected as Sankaran and the corrected birth death certificate shall be uploaded and the petitioner will also be entitled to a copy.

iii.The aforesaid exercise shall be completed within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the web copy of the order without waiting for the certified copy of the order.

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