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193. The first is where the
incumbent wants "correction" in the certificate
issued by the CBSE to be made consistent with
the particulars mentioned in the school records.
193.1. As we have held, there is no reason for
the CBSE to turn down such request or attach
any precondition except reasonable period of
limitation and keeping in mind the period for
which the CBSE has to maintain its record
under the extant regulations. While doing so, it
can certainly insist for compliance of other
conditions by the incumbent, such as, to file
sworn affidavit making necessary declaration
and to indemnify the CBSE from any claim
against it by third party because of such
correction. The CBSE would be justified in
insisting for surrender/return of the original
certificate (or duplicate original certificate, as
the case may be) issued by it for replacing it
with the fresh certificate to be issued after
carrying out necessary corrections with
caption/annotation against the changes carried
out and the date of such correction. It may
retain the original entries as it is except in
respect of correction of name effected in
exercise of right to be forgotten. The fresh
certificate may also contain disclaimer that the
CBSE cannot be held responsible for the
genuineness of the school records produced by
Patna High Court CWJC No.19468 of 2021(2) dt.13-10-2022
the incumbent in support of the request to
record correction in the original CBSE
certificate. The CBSE can also insist for
reasonable prescribed fees to be paid by the
incumbent in lieu of administrative expenses for
issuing fresh certificate.
194.1. Reverting to the first
category, as noted earlier, there is a legal
presumption in relation to the public documents
as envisaged in the 1872 Act. Such public
documents, therefore, cannot be ignored by the
CBSE. Taking note of those documents, the
Patna High Court CWJC No.19468 of 2021(2) dt.13-10-2022
CBSE may entertain the request for recording
change in the certificate issued by it. This,
however, need not be unconditional, but subject
to certain reasonable conditions to be fulfilled
by the applicant as may be prescribed by the
CBSE, such as, of furnishing sworn affidavit
containing declaration and to indemnify the
CBSE and upon payment of prescribed fees in
lieu of administration expenses. The CBSE may
also insist for issuing public notice and
publication in the Official Gazette before
recording the change in the fresh certificate to
be issued by it upon surrender/return of the
original certificate (or duplicate original
certificate, as the case may be) by the applicant.
The fresh certificate may contain disclaimer and
caption/annotation against the original entry
(except in respect of change of name effected in
exercise of right to be forgotten) indicating the
date on which change has been recorded and the
basis thereof. In other words, the fresh
certificate may retain original particulars while
recording the change along with
caption/annotation referred to above (except in
respect of change of name effected in exercise
of right to be forgotten).
194.2. However, in the latter
situation where the change is to be effected on
the basis of new acquired name without any
supporting school record or public document,
that request may be entertained upon insisting
for prior permission/ declaration by a court of
law in that regard and publication in the Official
Gazette including surrender/return of original
certificate (or duplicate original certificate, as
Patna High Court CWJC No.19468 of 2021(2) dt.13-10-2022
the case may be) issued by CBSE and upon
payment of prescribed fees. The fresh certificate
as in other situations referred to above, retain
the original entry (except in respect of change
of name effected in exercise of right to be
forgotten) and to insert caption/annotation
indicating the date on which it has been
recorded and other details including disclaimer
of CBSE. This is so because the CBSE is not
required to adjudicate nor has the mechanism to
verify the correctness of the claim of the
applicant. 195. In the light of the above, in
exercise of our plenary jurisdiction, we direct
the CBSE to process the applications for
correction or change, as the case may be, in the
certificate issued by it in the respective cases
under consideration. Even other pending
applications and future applications for such
request be processed on the same lines and in
particular the conclusion and directions
recorded hitherto in paras 193 and 194, as may
be applicable, until amendment of relevant bye-
laws. Additionally, the CBSE shall take
immediate steps to amend its relevant bye-laws
so as to incorporate the stated mechanism for
recording correction or change, as the case may
be, in the certificates already issued or to be
issued by it."