Madras High Court
WP(MD)/29070/2026 of Prasanth Vs The Commissioner on 15 October 2026
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 15-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011436182026}
Prasanth,
S/o.Shunmugaraj,
Plot No.2627, Guruvaiya Nagar
Near Labour Office, Thirumal Nagar
Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Commissioner,
Tirunelveli Corporation,
Tirunelveli.
2. The Registrar Births and Deaths,
Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation,
S.N. High Road,
Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
3. The Tahsildar,
Palayamkottai Taluk,
Tirunelveli.
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to add the surname (Shunmugaraj) along with the name of the petitioner and with the name of the petitioner's mother as Prasanth Shunmugaraj and Guruvammal Shunmugaraj respectively instead of
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026
Prasanth and Guruvammal respectively in the birth certificate of the petitioner bearing Registration No.31 dated 04.07.1989 issued by the first respondent in the light of the representation dated 03.10.2026 preferred by the petitioner within the period that may be stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
M/s.H.Jasima Yasmin
for M/s.Ajmal Associates
For R1 & R2 :
Mr.A.Sivanu Pandian
Standing Counsel
For R3 :
Mr.R.Parthiban
Special Government Pleader
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ORDER
The petitioner is a non-resident Indian citizen currently based in the United States of Mexico. Intending to take his mother and father to the said country, the petitioner applied for a family reunion visa. The petitioner's father's visa was rejected on the ground that names recorded in the passport and birth certificate of the petitioner do not tally. After submitting representation dated 03.10.2026 for the addition of the surname, 'Shunmugaraj', along with the name of the petitioner and the petitioner's mother instead of Prasanth and Guruvammal in the petitioner's Birth Certificate, the present Writ Petition was filed.
2. Mr.A.Sivanu Pandian, learned Standing Counsel, appears on behalf of the Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation. He submits that the place of
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026 residence falls outside the jurisdiction of the Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation.
3. Mr.R.Parthiban, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice for the third respondent.
4. Section 15 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 enables corrections to the Register of Births if the entry is erroneous in form or substance. The corresponding Rule 11 of the Tamil Nadu Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2000 enables correction of clerical or formal errors.
5. The petitioner's birth certificate and passport are on record. The birth certificate contains the name of the petitioner, which is recorded as “PRASANTH”. It, however, does not record the name of the petitioner's father, “SHUNMUGARAJ”, which is shown as the surname of the petitioner in the petitioner's passport bearing Passport No.U0141963. It also records the name of the petitioner's mother as “GURUVAMMAL” and that of the petitioner's father as “SHUNMUGARAJ”. Considering these aspects, the relief claimed in this Writ Petition is liable to be granted.
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026
6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is allowed by directing the third respondent to re-issue the birth certificate of the petitioner by recording the name of the petitioner as “PRASANTH SHUNMUGARAJ” and the name of the petitioner's mother as “GURUVAMMAL SHUNMUGARAJ”. This shall be carried out within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. 15-10-2026 Index: No Speaking Neutral Citation: No JEN To
1. The Commissioner, Tirunelveli Corporation, Tirunelveli.
2. The Registrar Births and Deaths, Tirunelveli City Municipal Corporation, S.N. High Road, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
3. The Tahsildar, Palayamkottai Taluk, Tirunelveli.
WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026 SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY, J. JEN WP(MD) No. 29070 of 2026 15-10-2026