Safai Sewak retired at 60 based on service-record date of birth sought correction citing a belatedly obtained birth certificate to continue for eight more years. The Court declined relief, holding a date of birth accepted throughout service cannot be changed at retirement on grounds of delay, laches and estoppel.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M) Date of decision: 20.07.2026
Bala
....Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab and others
....Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAMIT KUMAR
Present: Dr. Rau P.S. Girwar, Advocate, Ms. Archana Arora Rau, Advocate, Ms. K.T. Rau, Advocate, and Mr. Ashish Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Akhil Kamra, AAG, Punjab. Mr. Sanjeev Soni, Advocate, and Mr. Sarthak Soni, Advocate, for respondents No.4 and 5.
NAMIT KUMAR J.
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
Bathinda, as Safai Sewak on 30.09.1991. The petitioner’s date of birth was 06.06.1970, however, record keeper mentioned her date of birth as 22.08.1962 in the service record. It is further pleaded that the petitioner is an illiterate lady, therefore, she did not know about the wrong entry of her date of birth in the service record. Due to the said clerical mistake, vide office order dated 30.08.2022 (Annexure P-4), petitioner was prematurely retired from service w.e.f. 31.08.2022 i.e. eight years prior to her actual date of retirement. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 31.08.2022 (Annexure P-5) to respondent No.4 – Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, seeking correction of her date of birth in the service record and continuation in service. However, said representation was rejected on the ground of delay in seeking correction of the date of birth. Thereafter, petitioner served a legal notice dated 01.05.2023 (Annexure P-9) upon the respondents, requesting reinstatement in service by considering her date of birth as 06.06.1970. However, by way of reply dated 07.06.2023 (Annexure P-10), respondents, have denied the claim of the petitioner. Hence, the present petition.
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
produced the birth certificate after retirement from service which is of no use. It is further stated that as per the service record the date of birth of the petitioner is 22.08.1962 and the same has been entered in her service book at the time of her entry into service. At the later stage, she cannot take the plea that she is an illiterate lady and use to make her thumb mark on record. Petitioner has rightly been retired from service on 30.08.2022 on completion of 60 years of service.
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
as a conclusive proof of date of birth, as the same has been tampered with by the petitioner. It is pointed out that in the said certificate the date of birth is mentioned as 06.06.1970 and the age has been recorded as ‘21’ in numeric with different handwriting and ink, indicating manipulation. Therefore, the claim of the petitioner has rightly been rejected and present writ petition is also liable to be dismissed.
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
1499 , the High Courts extra-ordinary jurisdiction of writ Court was commented upon and it was held that the extra-ordinary nature of the jurisdiction is not meant to make employees of Government or its instrumentalities to continue in service beyond the period of entitlement according to their date of birth accepted by the employers. In the said case by virtue of an interim order passed by the Learned Single Judge, the employee had continued in service and though he was to retire on 24.04.1991 and had been informed of the said fact on 05.06.1990. He prayed for the benefit of extension in service on account of his date of birth found in matriculation admit card, in which it was showed that he was born on 07.07.1934, though his declared date of birth with the employer was 25.04.1931. Resultantly, the following observations were made:-
“10. Entertainment by High Courts of writ applications made by employees of the Government or its instrumentalities at the fag end of their services and when they are due for retirement from their services, in our view, is unwarranted. It would be so for the reason that no employee can claim a right to correction of birth date and entertainment of such writ applications for correction of dates of birth of some employees of Government or its instrumentalities will mar the chances of promotion of his juniors and prove to be an undue encouragement to the other employees to make similar applications at the fag end of their service careers with the sole object of preventing their retirements when due. Extra-ordinary nature of the jurisdiction vested in the High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution, in our considered view, is not meant to make employees of Government or its
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
instrumentalities to continue in service beyond the period of their entitlement according to dates of birth accepted by their employers, placing reliance on the so called newly found material. The fact that an employee of Government or its instrumentality who will be in service for over decades, with no objection whatsoever raised as to his date of birth accepted by the employer as correct, when all of a sudden comes forward towards the fag end of his service career with a writ application before the High Court seeking correction of his date of birth in his Service Record, the very conduct of non-raising of an objection in the matter by the employee, in our view, should be a sufficient reason for the High Court, not to entertain such applications on grounds of acquiescence, undue delay and laches. Moreover, discretionary jurisdiction of the High Court can never be said to have been reasonably and judicially exercised if it entertains such writ application, for no employee, who had grievance as to his date of birth in his Service and Leave Record' could have genuinely waited till the fag end of his service career to get it corrected by availing of the extraordinary jurisdiction of a High Court. Therefore, we have no hesitation, in holding, that ordinarily High Courts should not, in exercise of its discretionary writ jurisdiction, entertain a writ application/petition filed by an employee of the Government or its instrumentality, towards the fag end-of his service, seeking correction of his date of birth entered in his Service and Leave Record' or Service Register with the avowed object of continuing in service beyond the normal period of his retirement.
11. Prudence on the part of every High Court should, however, in our considered view, prevent it from granting interim relief in a petition for correction of the date of birth
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
filed under Article 226 of the Constitution by an employee in relation to his employment, because of the well settled legal position governing such correction of date of birth, which precisely stated, is the following: When a person seeks employment, he impliedly agrees with the terms and conditions on which employment is offered. For every post in the service of the Government or any other instrumentality there is the minimum age of entry prescribed depending on the functional requirements for the post. In order to verify that the person concerned is not below that prescribed age he is required to disclose his date of birth. The date of birth is verified and if found to be correct is entered in the service record. It is ordinarily presumed that the birth date disclosed by the incumbent is accurate. The situation then is that the incumbent gives the date of birth and the employer accepts it as true and accurate before it is entered in the service record. This entry in the service record made on the basis of the employee's statement cannot be changed unilaterally at the sweet will of the employee except in the manner permitted by service conditions or the relevant rules. Here again considerations for a change in the date of birth may be diverse and the employer would be entitled to view it not merely from the angle of there being a genuine mistake but also from the point of its impact on the service in the establishment. It is common knowledge that every establishment has its own set of service conditions governed by rules. It is equally known that practically every establishment prescribes a minimum age for entry into service at different levels in the establishment. The first thing to consider is whether on the date of entry into service would the employee have been eligible for entry into service on the revised date of birth. Secondly, would
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
revision of his date of birth after a long lapse of time upset the promotional chances of others in the establishment who may have joined on the basis that the incumbent would retire on a given date opening up promotional avenues for others. If that be so and if permitting a change in the date of birth is likely to cause frustration down the line resulting in causing an adverse effect on efficiency in functioning, the employer may refuse to permit correction in the date at a belated stage. It must be remembered that such sudden and belated change may upset the legitimate expectation of others who may have joined service hoping that on the retirement of the senior on the due date there would be an upward movement in the hierarchy. In any case in such cases Interim injunction for continuance in service should not be granted as it visits the juniors with irreparable injury, in that, they would be denied promotions a damage which cannot be repaired if the claim is ultimately found to be unacceptable. On the other hand, if no interim relief for continuance in service is granted and ultimately his claim for correction of birth date is found to be acceptable, the damage can be repaired by granting him all those monetary benefits which he would have received had he continued in service. We are, therefore, of the opinion that in such cases it would be imprudent to grant interim relief.”
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
“Union of India Vs. Harnam Singh”, 1993 (2) SCC 162, it was held that on the eve of the retirement, questioning the entry of the date of birth and in the absence of rules providing the change in date of birth cannot be permitted, which was in the said case within a period of 5 years in the Bombay Service Rules, 1959.
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
“[16] We respectfully agree with the views expressed by the Division Bench of this Court in Resham Singh's case (supra) that the birth certificate is a public record of births and deaths and must prevail over the matriculation certificate issued by school authorities. But the issue required to be examined is that even though the date of birth recorded in the matriculation certificate is at variance with the date of birth as recorded in the Register of Births & Deaths, whether such person is entitled to seek correction in the matriculation certificate relying upon the birth certificate. We find that he is estopped from disputing the entry in the matriculation certificate, which is made basis for employment in the public service in terms of the relevant recruitment Rules.
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[45] The right to seek actual date of birth has to be exercised within three years of attaining the majority on the basis of the birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths. But, after expiry of period of three years from the cessation of disability, no person can rely upon the birth certificate. He is bound by the date given in the matriculation certificate. Therefore, in any case, the right of a person to seek actual date of birth on the basis of entry in the birth certificate by the Registrar of Births and Deaths is three years after attaining the majority on the basis of date of birth in the said certificate.”
Vs. Premlal Shrivas”, 2011 (9) SCC 664 has noticed that in the said case the employee had applied for correction of his date of birth after 25 years of service and it was held that the exception to get the date of birth corrected would be if there was a clerical error and no evidence had
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
been placed on record to show that it was due to the negligence of some other person. Therefore, on the eve of retirement the Courts were being approached for such correction and the same was held to be unjustified. Resultantly, the appeal was allowed and the judgment passed by the High Court was set aside. Relevant portion of the said judgment reads as under:-
“15. In Commissioner of Police, Bombay and Anr. Vs. Bhagwan V. Lahane 5 (1997) 1 SCC 247 , this Court has held that for an employee seeking the correction of his date of birth, it is a condition precedent that he must show, that the incorrect recording of the date of birth was made due to negligence of some other person, or that the same was an obvious clerical error failing which the relief should not be granted to him. Again, in Union of India Vs. C. Rama Swamy & Ors. 6 (1997) 4 SCC 647 , it has been observed that a bonafide error would normally be one where an officer has indicated a particular date of birth in his application form or any other document at the time of his employment but, by mistake or oversight a different date has been recorded.
16. As aforesaid, in the instant case, no evidence has been placed on record by the respondent to show that the date of birth recorded as 1st June, 1942 was due to the negligence of some other person. He had failed to show that the date of birth was recorded incorrectly, due to want of care on the part of some other person, despite the fact that a correct date of birth had been shown on the documents presented or signed by him. We hold that in this fact situation the High Court ought not to have directed the appellants to correct the date of birth of the respondent under Rule 84 of the said rules.”
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
“11. The learned counsel for the respondent, on the other hand, has relied upon the decision of this Court relating the very same employer namely, the appellants herein in the case of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. & Ors. vs. Chhota Birasa Uranw (2014) 12 SCC 570 wherein this Court with reference to the earlier decisions of this Court has upheld the order of the High Court wherein a direction had been issued to effect the change in the date of birth. Having perused the same we are of the opinion that the said decision cannot render assistance to the respondent herein. This is for the reason that in the said case it was taken note that in 1987 on implementation of the National Coal Wage Agreement (iii) was put into operation for stabilising the service records of the employees and all its employees were provided a chance to identify and rectify the discrepancies in the service records by providing them a nomination form containing details of their service records. In the cited case the respondent (employee) therein had noticed the inconsistencies in the records regarding his
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
date of birth, date of appointment, father’s name and permanent address and availed the opportunity to seek correction. Though he had sought for the correction of the errors, the other discrepancies were set right but the date of birth and the date of appointment had however remained unchanged and it is in that view the employee had again raised a dispute regarding the same and the judicial remedy was sought wherein the benefit was extended to him.
12. On the other hand, in the instant case, as on the date of joining and as also in the year 1987 when the respondent had an opportunity to fill up the Nomination Form and rectify the defect if any, he had indicated the date of birth as 04.03.1950 and had further reiterated the same when Provident Fund Nomination Form was filled in 1998. It is only after more than 30 years from the date of his joining service, for the first time in the year 2009 he had made the representation. Further the respondent did not avail the judicial remedy immediately thereafter, before retirement. Instead, the respondent retired from service on 31.03.2010 and even thereafter the writ petition was filed only in the year 2014, after four years from the date of his retirement. In that circumstance, the indulgence shown to the respondent by the High Court was not justified.”
Court in “Director, Directorate of School Education vs V. Ranganathan”, 2020(1) SCT 530 , wherein it has been held that a request for correction in date of birth is to be made within a period of 05 years of entry into service and a request for change in date of birth in the service record at the end of career of an employee, should not be entertained. The operative part of the said judgment, reads as under:-
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
“10. In view of the above provision, a request for a correction in the date of birth had o be made within a period of five years of the entry into service. The request for a change in the date of birth in the service records was made virtually at the end of the career of the respondent. Even if a representation had been submitted on 11 August 1989, it was only in 2017 that the respondent moved the Tribunal. There was no cause or justification for the delay and was reason enough to reject the OA. Therefore, the Tribunal was correct in coming to the conclusion that the OA had to be dismissed on the ground of delay. The High Court erred in interfering with the judgment of the Tribunal. The High Court has proceeded in a manner contrary to Settled principles noted in several decisions of this Court including the decision in Harnam Singh (supra) which was drawn to its attention.”
“Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited vs T.P. Nataraja and others”, 2021(4) SCT 162 , has held that the application of an employee for change of date of birth is liable to be rejected on the ground of delay and laches. The relevant portion from the said judgment, reads as follows:-
“11. Therefore, applying the law laid down by this court in the aforesaid decisions, the application of the respondent for change of date of birth was liable to be rejected on the ground of delay and laches also and therefore as such respondent employee was not entitled to the decree of declaration and therefore the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court is unsustainable and not tenable at law.”
To the same effect are the judgments of the Hon’ble
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
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CWP No.18585 of 2023 (O&M)
Supreme Court in Registrar General High Court of Madras v. M. Manickam and others, 2011(4) SCT 672 and State of Haryana v. Satish Kumar and another, 2010(4) SCT 311 .
| (NAMIT KUMAR) JUDGE |
||
|---|---|---|
| 20.07.2026 | ||
| R.S. | ||
| Whether speaking/reasoned: | Yes/No | |
| Whether reportable: | Yes/No |
RAVINDER SINGH 2026.07.29 15:12 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Chandigarh
1 issue framed by the court
Whether an employee can seek correction of date of birth in service record at the fag end of career to challenge premature retirement.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Union of India Vs. Harnam SinghRelied on¶8
1993 (2) SCC 162 · Who else cites this
Burn Standard Co. Ltd. vs Shri Dinabandhu MajumdarRelied on¶8
1995 AIR (SC) 1499 · Who else cites this
State of Gujarat & Ors. Vs Vali Mohmed Dosabhai SindhiRelied on¶9
2006 AIR (SC) 2735 · Who else cites this
Seema Ghosh vs Tata Iron & Steel CompanyRelied on¶10
2006 AIR (SC) 2936 · Who else cites this
Ambika Kaul Vs. Central Board of Secondary Education and othersRelied on¶11
2015 (3) SCT 350
State of M.P. and others Vs. Premlal ShrivasRelied on¶12
2011 (9) SCC 664 · Who else cites this
M/s Bharat Coking Coal Limited and others vs Shyam Kishore SinghRelied on¶13
2020 (3) SCC 411 · Who else cites this
Director, Directorate of School Education vs V. RanganathanRelied on¶14
2020(1) SCT 530
Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited vs T.P. Nataraja and othersRelied on¶15
2021(4) SCT 162
Registrar General High Court of Madras v. M. Manickam and othersReferred¶16
2011(4) SCT 672
State of Haryana v. Satish Kumar and anotherReferred¶16
2010(4) SCT 311
1 provisions across 1 enactments
Bala
State of Punjab
Namit Kumar
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
