Stand, Gangapur City, District Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan) v. The Chairman, Board Of Secondary Education, Rajasthan

Judgment

1. The Chairman, Board Of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer.

2. The Secretary, Board Of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer.

3. The Section Officer (Examination-II), Board Of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer. ----Respondents For Petitioner(s)

: Mr. Rahul Sharma For Respondent(s) : Mr. Parth Vashishtha for Mr. Shantanu Sharma JUSTICE ANOOP KUMAR DHAND Order 15/05/2025 Reportable

1. “What is there in the name?” Name is an intrinsic element of identity. In the world famous play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, there is a famous quote “What’s in a name?” Showing the importance of the name it has been said that it conveys the natural characteristics of an individual which is more important than his/her artificial/acquired characteristics.

2. A name is the first gift most of us receive from our parents. It becomes the foundation of our legal, social and emotional [2025:RJ-JP:20640] (2 of 6) [CW-13360/2022] identity. To name someone is to recognize their presence in the world and to be nameless, in many ways, is to be invisible. Names reflect who we are and where we came from.

3. “To mispronounce, ignore or intentionally change someone’s name is to deny them their identity. From birth certificates to passports, academic records to professional achievements etc. a name is legal marker of existence. Losing or altering it whether through errors, migration or force can lead to struggles, in asserting identity and rights. The denial of one’s name can be a denial of personhood. So what’s in a name is everything. A name is memory, dignity, identity and self-worth. To know and honour someone’s name is to acknowledge their existence. Being called by correct name, especially in spaces where one is a minority, is deeply affirming. It is an acknowledgment of one’s presence, his/her voice, and humanity.

4. Mother plays a key role in fostering a child’s reputation, empathy and social skills. The bond between a mother and her child is special one. It remains unchanged by time or distance. It is the purest love, unconditional and true. It is the mother who gives birth to a child, therefore, she has every right to get her name on the academic testimonial of her children.

5. A child born to a family sees the world first through the eyes of his/her mother and develops his/her skill through the vision of the family. Mother is one, who can take place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.

6. A mother’s name in educational record is more than just a detail, its a thread that weaves a child’s identity, and sense of [2025:RJ-JP:20640] (3 of 6) [CW-13360/2022] belonging. Its a reminder that education is not just about academics but about nurturing and developing the personality of the child by strengthening his/her emotional and cultural roots. By including mother’s name in educational records, we acknowledge the love, care and sacrifice that shapes a child’s life, and provide a sense of connection to their family and community.

7. Prior to the year 2001, there was no concept of adding name of mother in the educational records of the children. Mother is equally entitled and there is no reasonable justification for only mentioning the father’s name in certificates relating to the educational qualification. It is clearly retrogressive, if the educational certificates, degrees and other such documents reflect only the name of father of a candidate eliminating the name of the mother. Hence, with passage of time, it became mandatory to reflect name of both the mother and the father in the educational certificates and degrees of their children.

8. In the instant case, though the correct name of the petitioner is there in his educational record of Class 10th and Class 12th but by mistake, the pet name (nickname) of his mother is mentioned therein. When the petitioner realised the mistake, he approached the respondents for correction in his mother’s name but the respondents denied to do the same, hence, under such circumstances, the petitioner herein knocked the door of this Court by way of filing this writ petition.

9. The instant writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following prayer:- “(i) by issuing an appropriate writ, order or direction the impugned order dated 04.08.2022 passed [2025:RJ-JP:20640] (4 of 6) [CW-13360/2022] by the Section Officer (Examination-II), Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer may kindly be quashed and set aside and application submitted by the petitioner for correction of name of his mother as Asha Naruka in place of Tina Naruka may kindly be allowed as prayed; (ii) by issuing an appropriate writ, order or direction the respondents may kindly be directed allow correction in the name of petitioner's mother as Asha Naruka in place of Tina Naruka in the marksheet/ certificate of Secondary Education 2019 and in the Senior Secondary 2021 and migration certificate; (iii) any other order or directions which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case also be passed in favour of humble petitioner.”

10. By way of filing this writ petition, a challenge has been led to the impugned order dated 04.08.2022 passed by the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer (for short “the Board”) by which the application submitted by the petitioner for correcting the name of his mother in his mark-sheets/certificates of Class 10th (Secondary Examination) and Class 12th (Senior Secondary Examination) has been rejected.

11. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the correct name of mother of the petitioner is “Asha Naruka”, which was inadvertently mentioned as “Tina Naruka” in his mark-sheets/certificates, as she is affectionately known by that pet name (nickname) within the family. Learned counsel submits that in all other public documents, i.e., birth certificate, domicile certificate, Aadhar Card, Jan Aadhar Card and Ration Card, name of the mother of the petitioner is mentioned as “Asha Naruka”. Learned counsel submits that name of father of the petitioner is Jitendra Singh Naruka and the marriage certificate of his parents also indicates the name of his mother as Asha Naruka. Learned [2025:RJ-JP:20640] (5 of 6) [CW-13360/2022] counsel submits that on the basis of the aforesaid documents, an application was submitted by the petitioner with the Board for correction of his mother’s name on 25.07.2022 along-with an affidavit, but instead of making the necessary correction in the mark-sheets/certificates of Class 10th and Class 12th, the said application has been returned by raising certain objections, hence under such circumstances, the petitioner has approached this Court by way of filing this writ petition.

12. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents opposed the arguments raised by learned counsel for the petitioner and submitted that an office order has been issued by the Board on

26.02.2021 wherein complete procedure has been prescribed for carrying out correction/amendment in names and the said procedure has not been followed by the petitioner at the time of submitting the application, hence, under these circumstances, the original application submitted by the petitioner was returned to him.

13. Heard and considered the submissions made at Bar and perused the material available on the record.

14. Considering the arguments put forward by learned counsel for the parties and looking to the fact that the matter pertains to correction of name of mother of the petitioner in his mark- sheets/certificate of Class 10th and Class 12th, the only objection taken by the Board is that such application should be submitted on the simple paper along-with affidavit, duly verified by the Head Master/Principal of the concerned school from where such candidate has passed his Secondary/Senior Secondary Examination. [2025:RJ-JP:20640] (6 of 6) [CW-13360/2022]

15. It appears that in the instant case instead of following the above process and without getting the aforesaid verification by the Headmaster/Principal of the school/educational institution, the petitioner has straightaway approached the Board by way of filing the aforesaid application for doing necessary correction.

16. Considering the above factual aspect of the matter, the instant writ petition stands disposed of by granting liberty to the petitioner to submit appropriate application along-with an additional affidavit before the respondents, after getting it verified from the Headmaster/Principal of the school from where the petitioner has passed his Class 10th and Class 12th examination.

17. After getting the aforesaid verification from the Headmaster/Principal of school, if the petitioner submits a fresh application before the Board, the Board is directed to make the necessary correction in the mark-sheets of Class 10th and Class 12th of the petitioner and issue him fresh mark-sheet/certificates.

18. The entire exercise would be done by the petitioner and the respondents within a period of three months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

19. All applications (pending, if any) also stand disposed of. Karan/56 (ANOOP KUMAR DHAND),J