While quoting Shakespeare’s famous line “What’s in a name?” from Romeo and Juliet, the Rajasthan High Court recently made a strong statement on the importance of names. Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand stated that a name is not just a word, but the very foundation of a person's legal, social, and emotional identity.
“A name is the first gift most of us receive from our parents. It becomes the base of who we are. To deny or change a person’s name wrongly is like denying their identity,” observed Justice Dhand.
The Court was hearing the case of Chirag Naruka v. The Chairman, Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer & Others. In this case, the petitioner wanted to correct his mother’s name in his Class 10th and 12th academic records. Instead of her official name, her nickname was wrongly entered.
The petitioner submitted all the necessary documents showing his mother’s correct name and filed an application with the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer. However, the Board rejected his request, saying that he did not follow the required procedure for such corrections.
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The Court, after listening to both sides, directed the petitioner to file a fresh application following the correct steps. It also instructed the Board to make the correction after receiving the proper application.
“The mother gives birth to a child. Her love is unconditional and eternal. She plays a major role in building a child’s values and social behavior. So, she has every right to be mentioned in the child’s academic records,” the Court said.
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Justice Dhand also pointed out that before the year 2001, there was no rule to include the mother’s name in a child’s educational certificates. The Court criticized this practice as outdated and unfair. Over time, it became essential to mention both parents’ names in educational documents.
“From birth certificates to school records and passports, a name is proof of our existence. Losing or wrongly writing it can make it hard to claim our rights,” the Court added.
In conclusion, the High Court emphasized that recognizing a mother’s name in academic records is not only a matter of legal right but also of dignity and equality. Both parties—the petitioner and the Board—were directed to finish the process within three months.
Title: Chirag Naruka v the Chairman, Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan Ajmer & Ors.
