‘Varsities can’t refuse change of name requests’

HC ON DEGREE CERTIFICATES

‘Varsities can’t refuse change of name requests’

Mahir.Haneef@timesgroup.com

Kochi:02.03.2021

A university cannot refuse to change a student’s name in degree certificate, citing the reason that application for such change was filed after conferment of the degree, the high court said.

Disagreeing to the contention put forward by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Justice Anu Sivaraman said request for changing name in degree certificate should be considered if documents evidencing the name change are in order.

The court was considering a petition by Mathew Anil Parakkal of Chalakkudy through advocate Jeena Joseph. While the degree certificate had the name ‘Mathew Anil’, the petitioner wanted to change it to ‘Mathew Anil Parakkal’.

IGNOU contended that as per a notification issued in January, application for change of name will be entertained only before the degree is awarded.

In the judgment, the court said, “Having considered the contentions advanced, I find that the petitioner has submitted the request before the IGNOU for recording a change in his name which has already been effected through corrections carried out in all relevant documents including the birth certificate, school records, Aadhaar card as well as PAN card. The petitioner has taken out paper publication of the change of the same as well. In the above factual situation, I am of the opinion that the refusal to consider the request on the ground that it was made after the conferment of the degree is completely unjustified.”

IGNOU was ordered by the court to consider the application and correct the name if the documents produced are in order.

Court: IGNOU should consider the request if the documents evidencing the name change are in order