In Brief
In this landmark batch of appeals, the Supreme Court addressed whether students have the right to correct or change names and parental names in CBSE certificates. The Court held that identity—particularly name—is fundamental and protected under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21. It declared CBSE's blanket ban on post-publication name changes excessively restrictive and unreasonable. The Court confirmed CBSE is a public authority bound by constitutional scrutiny and that its Byelaws have legal force. It directed CBSE to permit corrections to match school records and changes based on public documents (birth certificates, etc.) or court orders, subject to reasonable conditions like affidavits, fees, disclaimers, and caption-annotations. The judgment also cautioned High Courts against mechanically issuing mandamus without examining constitutional validity of challenged rules.
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