R.Raja v. The Secretary,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY R.Raja ..Petitioner Vs

1. The Secretary, Department of School Education, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Director, Directorate of Government Examination, DPI Complex, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

3. The Joint Director of School Education, (Personnel) O/o.the Director of School Education, DPI Complex, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

4. The District Education Officer, Office of the District Educational Officer, Tuticorin - 628 907.

5. The Headmaster, Caldwell Higher Secondary School, No.100, Beach Road, Vadaku Theru, Cruz Puram, Tuticorin - 628 001.

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order of the third respondent in R.C.No.211102 and 219248/B5 (3)/2025 dated 24.11.2025 and quash the same and direct the respondents to correct the date of birth of the petitioner's namely R.Raja as 16.09.1982 in the

SSLC Certificate issued by Board of Secondary Education bearing certificate No.4454693 for the examinations held in April 1997 (Register No.050705) and HSCC Certificate issued by Board of Higher Secondary Examination bearing Certificate No.2758639 for the examinations held in March 1999 (Register No.532886).

For Petitioner:

Mr.R.Krishnan For Respondents:

Mr.A.M.Ayyadurai Government Advocate for R1 to R5

ORDER

The writ petition is filed for a certiorarified mandamus calling for the records in respect of the impugned order dated 24.11.2025 and to correct the date of birth of the petitioner as 16.09.1982 instead of 16.03.1982 in SSLC Certificate & HSCC Certificate.

2. Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the material records of the case, the grievance of the petitioner is that he was born on 16.09.1982 and his birth was registered on 20.09.1982 itself with the Thoothukudi Municipality and the birth certificate issued by the Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation in Registration No.138/1982/01/00500 stands testimony for the same. However, while giving the date of birth to the school authorities, the same was wrongly given. When the petitioner wanted to apply for employment in private entities, since there is a discrepancy between the date of birth in the birth certificate and the school certificate, the same is now being

denied to him.

3. I have considered the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and also heard the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondents.

4. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents would submit that as per Rule 5 of the Tamil Nadu Secondary School Leaving Certificate Scheme, the application for correction of date of birth can be considered only during the period in which the person undergoes the course. The request is made very belatedly now, when the student underwent the course in the years 1997 and 1999 and therefore the same cannot be corrected by the educational authorities.

5. As contended by the learned Government Advocate, the educational authorities are right in refusing to correct the same. However, the factual situation in this case is that the petitioner is not asking for the same for any benefit from the Government or for getting into any Government employment. It is stated that he is only going to receive an employment opportunity in a private company. Therefore, when persons like the petitioner, whose date of birth was erroneously given at the time of admission, now want to earn a livelihood by way of private employment or by going abroad, it will be the duty

of every authority to lend a helping hand in enabling the petitioner to earn his lawful livelihood.

6. In view thereof, treating this as a special case, since the date of birth certificate was registered immediately after the birth of the petitioner and there is no ground to doubt the veracity of the same, I am of the view that this writ petition can be ordered.

7. Accordingly, the writ petition is ordered on the following terms: (i) The impugned order in R.C.No.211102 and 219248/B5(3)/2025 dated 24.11.2025 shall stand quashed.

(ii) The second respondent shall reconsider the case of the petitioner and alter the date of birth in the 10th and 12th standard certificates issued to the petitioner as 16.09.1982 instead of 16.03.1982, either by making an endorsement in the same certificates or by issuing new certificates. Any charges in this regard shall be collected from the petitioner. No costs. 27-02-2026 NSL

To

1. The Secretary, Department of School Education, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Director, Directorate of Government Examination, DPI Complex, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

3. The Joint Director of School Education, (Personnel) O/o.the Director of School Education, DPI Complex, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

4. The District Education Officer, Office of the District Educational Officer, Tuticorin - 628 907.

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

NSL 27-02-2026