The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea filed by an Indian Army cadet seeking correction of his date of birth in Central Board of Secondary Education records, citing an eight-year delay in filing the request and the existence of two contradictory birth certificates showing different dates and places of birth.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia upheld an earlier order rejecting the cadet’s request to change his date of birth in CBSE records from September 14, 2000, to September 14, 1999.
The petitioner, an Indian Army cadet who graduated from the National Defence Academy and later joined the Indian Military Academy during 2021–22, had sought issuance of a fresh Class 10 certificate reflecting the revised date of birth.
Two Conflicting Birth Certificates
The Court noted that the cadet relied on two birth certificates issued under the provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
According to court records, the first certificate, registered in December 2002, listed his date of birth as September 14, 2000, and recorded his place of birth as Police Quarters, Naraina. A second certificate issued in November 2023 mentioned his date of birth as September 14, 1999, and identified Jaipur Golden Hospital as his place of birth.
The Bench observed that the existence of two contradictory certificates raised serious concerns and that the discrepancy should first be resolved before seeking any correction in educational records.
Court Highlights Delay in Seeking Correction
The cadet’s CBSE Class 10 certificate was issued in 2016 and reflected September 14, 2000, as his date of birth. However, he approached the authorities and the court several years later, well beyond the one-year period prescribed under CBSE regulations for seeking such corrections.
The Court agreed with the earlier single-judge ruling that the petitioner could not use judicial proceedings to bypass a limitation period that had already expired.
Alternative Remedy Suggested
While dismissing the appeal, the High Court advised the cadet to first approach the competent authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act to resolve the discrepancy in his birth records.
The Bench further observed that he may also seek a declaration regarding his correct date of birth from a competent civil court and thereafter pursue appropriate remedies for correction of official records.
The ruling underscores the importance of maintaining consistency in official documents and reiterates that requests for correction of educational records must be supported by clear and undisputed documentary evidence.
