The Allahabad High Court has come down heavily on what it described as a shocking case of document manipulation, where a man sought to change his date of birth in his passport by more than a decade. The court not only questioned the petitioner’s conduct but also ordered registration of an FIR for cheating and forgery.
Background of the Case
The case was filed by Shiv Shankar Pal, who approached the High Court seeking a direction to change his date of birth in his passport from 11 July 1994 to 11 July 2005. His passport had been issued in November 2022 on the basis of documents that consistently reflected the 1994 birth date.
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During the hearing, the Passport Authority informed the court that the petitioner’s high school certificate issued in 2011 and the Aadhaar card submitted at the time of passport application both recorded his date of birth as 11 July 1994. However, an Aadhaar copy later filed with the writ petition mentioned the year as 2005, indicating a subsequent alteration.
Court’s Observations
The bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anish Kumar Gupta expressed serious concern over the conflicting records. It noted that the petitioner had also relied on a birth certificate issued by a Gram Panchayat in November 2025, showing his date of birth as 11 July 2005.
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Calling the situation “shocking,” the court observed that accepting the petitioner’s claim would mean he appeared for his high school examination at around six years of age.
“The extent of fabrication of documents, which is directly the result of widespread corruption, is disturbing,” the bench remarked.
Decision
Finding a clear lack of bona fides, the High Court declined to grant any relief. Instead, it directed the Commissioner, Prayagraj, to immediately register an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and forgery against the petitioner and the Gram Panchayat officials who issued the disputed birth certificate.
The matter has been listed again to ensure compliance with the order, with the court warning of strict action if the directions are not followed.
Case Title: Shiv Shankar Pal v. Union of India and 2 Others
Case Number: Writ – C No. 45135 of 2025
Date of Order: January 5, 2026
Counsel for Petitioner: Mohd. Salim Khan, Umakant Kushwaha, Ved Ratan
Counsel for Respondents: A.S.G.I., Dinesh Kumar Misra
