Bombay High Court
SOURABH SANDIP KHOT THR. GUARDIAN FATHER SANDIP POPAT KHOTversusTHE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA THR. EDUCAITON OF DEPT. AND ORS.
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The headmaster lacks authority to correct the date of birth; the correction must be sought from the Education Officer and, for the mark‑sheet, from the Secondary and Higher Secondary Board.
Summary
The petitioner, represented by his father, filed a writ petition seeking correction of his date of birth in school records and the S.S.C. mark‑sheet. The petitioner had initially applied to the school headmaster, who declined, stating he lacked authority to make such corrections. The learned Attorney General for the State argued that the correct forum is the Education Officer, and for mark‑sheet correction, the Secondary and Higher Secondary Board. The Court held that the headmaster indeed has no power to amend the records and directed the petitioner to file an application with the Education Officer within two weeks, and thereafter with the Board after the officer’s correction, with the officer to decide within four weeks. The petition was disposed with these directions.
Issues considered
- Whether the headmaster of a school has authority to correct a student's date of birth in school records and the S.S.C. mark‑sheet.
- Which authority is the proper forum for seeking correction of date of birth in school records and subsequent correction in the S.S.C. mark‑sheet.
Subjects
- date of birth correction
- school records
- education officer
- secondary and higher secondary board
- writ petition
- administrative authority
Judgment
904-WP-3867-2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 3867 OF 2026
Sourabh Sandip Khot ...Petitioner
Through Guardian father Sandip Popat Khot
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Others ...Respondents
——————
Mr. Nikhil N. Pawar with Ms. Manasi Patil, for the Petitioner.
Ms. Tejas J. Kapre, AGP for the Respondents-State.
——————
Coram : Sharmila U. Deshmukh &
Neeraj P. Dhote, JJ.
Date : October 08, 2026.
P. C. :
1. The learned AGP would submit that the application has been
wrongly made to the Headmaster of the school, who does not have any
authority, to correct the date of birth and the application is required to
be made to the Education Oicer alongwith supporting documents so
that the decision can be taken by the Education Oicer and in the event
that the correction is sought in the S.S.C. Mark-sheet, then the
application has to be made to Secondary and Higher Secondary Board.
2. In the present case, the Petitioner has iled an application with
the Headmaster, who has stated that the Headmaster of the school has
no authority to make the necessary correction. The learned counsel for
Gaikwad RD 1 of 2
904-WP-3867-2026.doc
the Petitioner, in light of the submissions, made by learned AGP, would
submit that within a period of two weeks from today, the application for
correction of date of birth in school record will be made to the
Education Oicer and for correction of the mark-sheet, the application
will be made after the Education Oicer corrects the date of birth, to
Secondary and Higher Secondary Board.
3. In the event, if such an application is made, the Education Oicer
is directed to decide the same expeditiously and in any event within a
period of four weeks from the date of application.
4. Needless to clarify that the application to be accompanied by all
supporting documents.
5. The Petition is disposed of accordingly.
[Neeraj P. Dhote, J.] [Sharmila U. Deshmukh, J.]
Digitally
signed by
RAJU
RAJU DATTATRAYA
DATTATRAYA GAIKWAD
GAIKWAD Date:
2026.10.09
13:30:41
+0530
Gaikwad RD 2 of 2
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