Citizens Have the Right to Correct Information in Public Records High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that every citizen has the right to obtain correct and authentic information in their public documents.

 

A bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Manmohan ruled that official records maintained by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) must be updated accurately, as these documents serve as critical proof of identity and other rights.

 

The court made these remarks while dismissing an appeal challenging CBSE’s refusal to amend the date of birth in a student’s certificate issued in 1999.

 

Case Background

The appellant had sought correction of the birth date in CBSE records based on a birth certificate issued by the Greater Chennai Corporation. CBSE argued that under examination regulations, the request was filed long after the prescribed deadline, which expired more than 10 years earlier.

 

The bench noted that while clerical or typographical mistakes should be corrected if proven genuine, CBSE cannot be compelled to amend records after such a long delay if the regulations do not permit it.

 

However, the court emphasized that public institutions must take appropriate care in maintaining accurate records and ensuring that citizens can rely on them for essential purposes such as identification and official transactions.

The judgment underscores the importance of transparency and diligence in handling public documents that impact the rights of individuals.