Smt.Kalavathi B N Vs the Registrar of Birth and… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Smt.Kalavathi B N Vs the Registrar of Birth and… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Impugned endorsement dated 26.02.2026 (Annexure-C) set aside; respondent authorities directed to consider the petitioner's case in the light of the judgment in W.P.No.18803/2024 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within eight (08) weeks; writ petition disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the endorsement dated 26-02-2026 issued by Respondent No.2 rejecting the petitioner's request to change her own name (from "Kala" to "Kalavathi.B.N") and her daughter's/ward's name (from "Chaithanya. B.S." to "Sanika. B.S") in the birth certificate, on the ground that such change is not permissible under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, should be quashed. +1 more

Court's answer

Section 15 of the Act contemplates correction of entries in a birth certificate only where an error has been committed by the authorities concerned.

Ratio / Principle

In the present case there is no such error committed by the authorities; the change sought is therefore not a correction of an authority-made error.

Key takeaways

The impugned endorsement dated 26.02.2026 (Annexure-C to the writ petition) is set aside.ratio¶¶41–¶42
The respondent authorities are directed to consider the petitioner's case in the light of the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.18803/2024 and thereafter pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.ratio¶¶43
The reconsideration exercise shall be completed within a period of eight (08) weeks from the date of receipt of the certified copy of this order.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Single-Judge order (Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.I. Arun), High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru, dated 25-04-2026, in WRIT PETITION NO. 13061 OF 2026 (LB-BMP), filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India. The petitioner sought (i) change of her own name from "Kala" to "Kalavathi.B.N" and (ii) change of her daughter's (ward's) name from "Chaithanya. B.S." to "Sanika. B.S" in the birth certificate. Respondent No.2, the Assistant Director (Statistics), Department of Birth and Death, West Zone, B.B.M.P., refused the request by endorsement No.S.N.(S)P/J/M/PR/218/25-26 dated 26-02-2026 (Annexure-C) on the ground that Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 contemplates correction of entries only if an error is committed by the authorities, and no such error existed here. The Court observed that its earlier detailed judgment in W.P. No.18803/2024, rendered taking into consideration traditional and customary practices, had not been considered by the authorities while issuing the endorsement. Operative directions: the impugned endorsement is set aside; the authorities must reconsider the case in the light of the W.P.No.18803/2024 judgment and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within eight (08) weeks of receipt of the certified copy. The writ petition stands disposed of.

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22818 WP No. 13061 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 25^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN WRIT PETITION NO. 13061 OF 2026 (LB-BMP)

BETWEEN:

SMT.KALAVATHI B N WIFE OF SANDEEP B.G., AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.8, 9^TH CROSS, 1^ST MAIN ROAD, DEEPANJALINAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 026.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. HARSHA H.M., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTH AND DEATH THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER, THE GREATER BENGALURU AUTHORITY, CORPORATION CIRCLE, N.R. SQUARE, BENGALURU - 560 027,

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (STATISTICS), DEPARTMENT OF BIRTH AND DEATH, WEST ZONE, B.B.M.P., BHASYAM PARK, SAMPIGE ROAD, MALLESWARAM, BENGALURU - 560 003.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. PAWAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE)

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22818 WP No. 13061 of 2026

HC-KAR

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENDORSEMENT BEARING NO.S.N.(S)P/J/M/PR/218/25-26, DATED 26-02-2026, ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.2 VIDE ANNEXURE-C, B. ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITY TO EFFECT CHANGES IN THE NAME OF THE WARD AS SANIKA. B.S AS AGAINST THE PRESENT NAME WHICH APPEARED IN THEIR RECORD AS CHAITHANYA. B.S. AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING / PHYSICAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner has requested change of her name from "Kala to Kalavathi.B.N," in the birth certificate of her

daughter. She has also requested for change of her daughter's name from "Chaithanya S to Sanika B.S." However, the same has been rejected by respondent No.2 on the ground that the same is not permissible under Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (for short, 'the Act').

It is true that Section 15 of the Act

contemplates correction of entries in the birth certificate of

3 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22818 WP No. 13061 of 2026

HC-KAR

a person only if an error is committed by the authorities

concerned. In this case, there is no such error.

However, taking into consideration the traditional and customary practices of our country, this Court has rendered a detailed judgment in W.P. No.18803/2024. It is evident from the impugned endorsement that the said judgment has not been considered by the authorities while taking the decision.

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner requests that the ratio laid down in W.P.No.18803/2024 be considered by the authorities concerned and thereafter take a decision regarding the request for change of name in the birth certificate of the daughter of the petitioner.

The learned counsel for the respondents have no objection for the same.

Hence, the following:

4 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22818 WP No. 13061 of 2026

HC-KAR

ORDER

i. The impugned endorsement dated 26.02.2026 vide

Annexure-C to the writ petition is hereby set aside.

ii. The respondent authorities are directed to consider the case of the petitioner in the light of the judgment of this Court passed in W.P.No.18803/2024 and thereafter pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.

iii. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of eight (08) weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

iv. The Writ Petition stands disposed of accordingly.

Sd/(M.I.ARUN) JUDGE

CH

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11