Kerala High Court: Individuals Have Right to Change Religion & Name in School Records Upon Conversion

The Kerala High Court has held that a person who voluntarily changes their religion has a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution to get the change recorded in official school documents.

Justice DK Singh passed the ruling while allowing a plea by a man born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother, who was raised Hindu but registered in school as a Muslim.

After formally converting to Hinduism through Arya Samaj and a gazette notification, his request to update school records was denied. 

The Court held that the same authority that corrects the date of birth can also update name, caste, and religion, and directed the Commissioner of Examinations to process the change.