2 hrs ago
Bengaluru Court Approves Name Changes After Religious Conversions
A medical student and her father asked a Bengaluru court to correct names in official records.
The father had used one name before converting to Christianity.
After converting, he began using a different name.
He later returned to Hinduism and started using his earlier name again.
However, his daughter’s school records still used his Christian name.
The family showed documents supporting the father’s use of his earlier name.
The court ordered authorities to correct the daughter’s initial and her father’s name.
The court said this decision was only about names, not caste.
It also warned that the father could face perjury consequences if another person challenged his identity claim.
A Bengaluru court allowed a medical student and her father to update names in official records.
The father had converted to Christianity, adopted another name, and later reconverted to Hinduism.
The court ordered the daughter’s initial and her father’s name to be changed in relevant records.
Educational records continued using the father’s later-used Christian name despite other documents showing his original name.
The court said the case concerned names and initials only, not any change to caste records.
- Who
- A medical student and her father; the case was heard by A M Nalini Kumari, XIV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru.
- What
- The court ordered changes to the daughter’s initial and her father’s name in relevant official and educational records.
- Where
- Bengaluru, in the XIV Additional City Civil and Sessions Court.
- When
- The suit was allowed with costs on September 23; an education authority’s endorsement requiring a decree was issued in April 2023.
- Why
- The daughter’s records continued to use the father’s Christian name after he had reconverted to Hinduism and resumed using his earlier name.
Plaintiffs’ Position
Defendants’ Position
Changing educational records
Plaintiffs’ Position
The family argued that the records should reflect the father’s original name, which he resumed after reconverting to Hinduism.
Defendants’ Position
The defendants argued that details supplied by parents had to remain in educational records and that there was no provision for the requested changes.
Evidence of identity
Plaintiffs’ Position
The plaintiffs presented documents showing that the father used his original name before conversion and after returning to Hinduism.
Defendants’ Position
The defendants challenged the suit’s maintainability and alleged that the father’s religious changes were connected with obtaining educational benefits.
Scope of the case
Plaintiffs’ Position
The plaintiffs sought changes to the daughter’s initial and the father’s name in relevant records.
Defendants’ Position
The defendants raised concerns related to the father’s religious and caste circumstances, but the court said the case did not require changing caste.
Key facts
- Court
- XIV Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, Bengaluru
- Presiding judge
- A M Nalini Kumari
- Father’s conversion
- He converted to Christianity on December 31, 2001, according to the plaintiffs’ case.
- Daughter’s birth
- The plaintiffs stated that she was born on May 20, 2002.
- Records at issue
- The daughter’s transfer certificate and SSLC marks card used the father’s Christian name.
- Supporting documents
- The father relied on an Arya Samaj Shuddi certificate, newspaper publications, school records and an Aadhaar card.
- Court’s limitation
- The ruling addressed names and initials, and did not change caste records.
Quotes
A M Nalini Kumari
XIV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru
“This court is in no way obligated to change the caste.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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