Kochi: The High Court on Thursday granted a plea from two students seeking to change their religion in their school certificates, as they had converted from Hinduism to Christianity a few years ago.
“Even if it is accepted that there is no provision enabling changes in religion entries on school certificates, that is no reason to bind a person to one religion merely by their birth. The freedom to practice and profess any religion of one’s choice is guaranteed by Article 25(1) of the Constitution. If a person embraces another religion by exercising that freedom, necessary corrections must be made in their records,” Justice VG Arun observed.
The petitioners, aged 24 and 25, were born to Hindu parents and followed Hinduism until May 2017. They converted to Christianity by getting baptized and wanted their religion changed to Christianity in their school certificates. They approached the Controller of Examinations to update their names and religion on their school certificates. The Controller of Examinations rejected their request, stating that there was no provision enabling such corrections. Aggrieved by the rejection, the petitioners approached the High Court.
Referring to the case Naveed MC v. State of Kerala (2021), it was argued that the court has the power to issue directions for rectifications in certificates even in the absence of specific provisions.
The court stated that upon embracing a new religion under the right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution, the petitioners have the right to make corrections regarding their change of religion in their records. The court, referring to Naveed MC (supra), stated that refusal to make corrections in certificates could adversely impact the future of the petitioners. It added, “Moreover, such a rigid approach undermines the Constitutional guarantee.”
The court thus set aside the order of the Controller of Examinations rejecting their request and directed that the entry regarding religion in the school certificates of the petitioners be corrected.
(With Live Law inputs)
