Madras High CourtWP/2961/2026disposed of

N.Selvakumar v. The Commissioner

2026-01-28Honourable Mr.Justice D.Bharatha Chakravarthy8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 28.01.2026 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.No.3314 of 2026 N.Selvakumar .. Petitioner

Versus

1. The Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, Rippon Building, Chennai.

2. The City Health Officer, Corporation of Chennai, Chennai.

3. The Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of School Education, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

4. The Director of Government Examinations, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

5. The Chief Educational Officer (CEO), Panagal Building, 1st Floor, Near Kalaignar Pon Vila Valaivu, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.

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6. The District Educational Officer (DEO) South, Dr.Ambedkar Government Higher Secondary School Campus, Ground Floor, Behind Gandhi Irwin Bridge, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.

.. Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents herein to enroll the candidature of petitioner's daughter and issue her the Hall Ticket in her present name 'S.Dharshini' and consequently permit her to appear and attend the forthcoming X standard State Board Public Examination which is scheduled to be commencing from 11.03.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Dinesh Kumar For Respondents : Ms.K.Aswini Devi, Standing Counsel for RR-1 and 2 : Mrs.S.Mythreye Chandru, Special Government Pleader (Education) for RR-3 to 6

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed for a mandamus directing the respondents to enroll the candidature of the petitioner's daughter and issue her hall ticket in her present name 'S.Dharshini' and consequently, to permit her to appear and attend the forthcoming X standard State Board Public Examination which is scheduled from 11.03.2026. 2/8

2. Upon hearing the learned Counsel for the petitioner and perusing the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition, it can be seen that the petitioner is married to one Jayalakshmi and out of the wedlock, they were blessed with a son by name Aravind, who was a special kid, immobilized throughout his life. He passed away on 10.10.2025 at the age of 19 years. Therefore, the petitioner had adopted the minor girl namely R.Tharani from her biological father namely, Ranjithkumar. It is to be noted that the biological mother of the child namely, Jagadeeshwari had also passed away on 19.07.2012. The adoption deed was lawfully executed and registered and all the provisions of the law as per the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 have been followed and it was registered as Doct.No.1263 of 2012 on the file of the Sub-Registrar, Virugambakkam.

3. While so, the name of the child was also changed from 'R.Tharani' to 'S.Dharshini'. In view of the same, now, when the credentials are being uploaded in the portal by the authorities of the school namely, Sri Venkateswara Matriculation Higher Secondary School at 104B, 1st Main road, Alwarthirunagar Annexe, Chennai - 600 087, there is 3/8

a difference in the name of the child in the records as in the birth certificate, her name is mentioned as 'R.Tharani' and the name of her father is mentioned as 'Ranjithkumar'. Therefore, there is a difficulty to permit her adoptive father to sign as the guardian as well as in the uploading credentials of the child.

4. When the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader (Education) for the respondent Nos.3 to 6 would submit that tomorrow (i.e., 29.01.2026) is the last date for the school to upload all the credentials. Therefore, directions, if any, have to be given so that the credentials can be uploaded by tomorrow itself.

5. The learned Counsel for the respondent Nos.1 and 2 would submit that it is true that the Government has also issued orders, thereby, the name of the adoptive father can also be carried out and mentioned as the name of the father in the birth certificate. The authorities will consider the request of the petitioner and do the needful.

6. In view of the above submissions and the timeline involved, this Writ Petition is disposed of with the following directions:- 4/8

(i) Sri Venkateswara Matriculation Higher Secondary School at 104B, 1st Main road, Alwarthirunagar Annexe, Chennai - 600 087 (though the school is not a party, directions are issued since there is an urgency in the matter), shall upload the particulars of the child tomorrow (i.e., 29.01.2026) in the portal by mentioning the name of the child as 'S.Dharshini' and by mentioning the name of the father as 'N.Selvakumar' and notwithstanding the fact that the other records as well as the Birth Certificate is not with that name as on today; (ii) The representation of the petitioner shall be taken up for enquiry by the second respondent and the second respondent shall duly alter the name of the child as well as the name of the father as 'S.Dharshini' and 'N.Selvakumar' in the respective columns and issue the corrected Birth Certificate;

(iii) The above exercise shall be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a web-copy of the order. (iv) Upon receipt of the corrected Birth Certificate, the same shall be produced before the school authorities and the school authorities shall correct the respective school records as per the Birth Certificate and thereafter, in the Transfer Certificate etc., the name of the child and the father can be accordingly mentioned;

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(v) The corrected documents, including the Birth Certificate and the other school records, shall be forwarded to the sixth respondent for the purpose of records;

(vi) There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

28.01.2026 : no grs To