P.Sornamani v. the Registrar of Birth and Death
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, 24.04.2025, W.P.No.14683 of 2025 (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.). Writ of Mandamus under Article 226 of Constitution of India seeking correction of wife's name (SORNAMANI instead of MURUGAYI) in husband Palanisamy's death certificate, Registration No. D-2024:33-19801-000147 dated 07.10.2024, issued by Registrar of Birth & Death / Commissioner, Thirumuruganpoondi Municipality, Tiruppur District; representation dated 24.03.2025; marriage in 1982; rival claim to status of wife. Held: Registrar not competent authority where rival claim exists; remedy lies before civil Court/Family Court for declaration of status; correction to follow interim order/final decree. Writ disposed of, no costs. No precedents cited.
What did the court decide?
While a simple clerical error in a death certificate could be directed to be corrected by the Registrar, where there is a rival claim — particularly on the facts of this case — the Registrar of Births and Deaths is not the competent authority.