Mangaluru City Corporation Continues Rejecting Name Change Applications Despite Karnataka High Court Directive
The Mangaluru City Corporation is rejecting applications to change children's names on birth certificates, citing lack of authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Karnataka High Court issued clear directions in 2024 allowing registrars to make name changes through endorsement upon parental request with affidavit. The defiance has prompted intervention from the Bar Association and District Legal Services Authority, raising questions about administrative compliance with judicial orders.
The Mangaluru City Corporation's Registrar of Births and Deaths has been systematically rejecting applications for name changes on birth certificates, claiming authority only to correct clerical errors under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. A specific case involved a 41-year-old woman seeking to add her surname "Acharya" to her 13-year-old twins' birth certificates, which contained only their father's initial. Despite submitting supporting documentation including Aadhaar card, passport, and class 10 marks card, the application was rejected. However, the Karnataka High Court ruled in 2024 (in the Adhrith Bhat writ petition) that registrars possess the power to make name changes through endorsement when parents submit sworn affidavits, and that such requests can be made before children turn 15. The High Court reiterated this direction while allowing additional writ petitions in 2026. The Mangaluru Bar Association and District Legal Services Authority have since intervened, but the registrar continues to reject applications in apparent defiance of the court's directive.
What's missing
The specific reasoning or justification provided by the registrar or MCC administration for continuing to reject applications despite the High Court directive is not detailed. Additionally, the total number of rejected applications and whether any have been successfully challenged in court since the 2024 ruling would provide context on the scale and outcome of this administrative practice.
What different sources said
- The HinduCenter
Applications seeking change of name in birth certificate being rejected by Mangaluru City Corporation
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