Rajalakshmi v. The Tahsildar
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 27/03/2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR in WMP(MD). No.27359 of 2025 Rajalakshmi ... Petitioner Vs
1. The Tahsildar, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.
2. The Commissioner, Kovilpatti Municipality, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.
... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire record pertaining to the impugned proceedings in Na.Ka. No. 363/2024/H2 dated 11.08.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct 1st and 2nd respondents to correct the initial of the petitioner minor daughter viz., S. Shrinithi in her 1/6
birth certificate dated 20.06.2012 as C. Shrinithi on the basis of the petitioners husband representation dated 05.07.2025 within the time stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr. P.M.Vishnu Varthanan, Advocate.
For Respondent :
Mrs.PB.Ahamed Yasmin Parvin, Government Advocate (Crl.Side), for R1 Mr.J.Parekh Kumar for R2.
ORDER
The petitioner challenges the proceedings dated 11.08.2025 issued by the second respondent, whereby the petitioner's request for correction of the initial of his minor daughter, namely "S. Shrinithi", in her birth certificate dated 20.06.2012 to "C. Shrinithi" was rejected.
2. The said request was rejected on the ground that the father of the minor child had repeatedly changed his name and, therefore, the request for correction could not be acceded to.
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3. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
4. It is seen from the records that, in the birth certificate dated 07.12.2011, the date of birth of the petitioner's minor daughter is recorded as 05.12.2011, and her name is mentioned as "S. Shrinithi", with the father's name shown as "Sakthivel". Subsequently, the father is stated to have changed his name on more than one occasion. The present request of the petitioner is only to correct the initial of the minor child in the birth certificate so as to reflect the current name of the father, thereby ensuring consistency in records, particularly for academic purposes, including the child's appearance in the X Standard Board Examinations.
5. This Court is of the view that such correction is only a consequential change arising out of the change in the name of the father and does not, in any manner, alter the identity of the child. No prejudice would be caused to the respondents if such correction is permitted. The reason assigned in the impugned order, namely that the father had changed his name on multiple occasions, cannot, by itself, be a valid 3/6
ground to reject a bona fide request for correction, especially when the request pertains to a minor child and is supported by relevant records.
6. In the above circumstances, the impugned proceedings dated 11.08.2025 issued by the second respondent are liable to be set aside and are accordingly set aside. The second respondent is directed to carry out the necessary corrections in the birth certificate of the petitioner's minor daughter by changing her name from "S. Shrinithi" to "C. Shrinithi" and by updating the name of the father as "A.G.S. Chivachaktivellbrabu" (as per the records furnished by the petitioner).
7. The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four
(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
8. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition stands closed.
27.03.2026 NCC :
Yes/No Index :
Yes/No 4/6
pnn To
1. The Tahsildar, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.
2. The Commissioner, Kovilpatti Municipality, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.
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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR,J pnn
ORDER
IN WP(MD) No.34590 of 2025 Date : 27/03/2026 6/6