The Karnataka High Court has allowed a minor girl to change her name from ‘Lakshmi N.’ to ‘Veena N.’, holding that every citizen has a civil right to be recognised by their chosen name.

Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar set aside the civil court’s decision refusing the name change and observed that a person can approach a civil court seeking correction or change of name.

“Every person in society is necessarily to be recognized by his/her name. It is a civil right of every citizen in India to be recognized by his/her name,” the Court said.

The case arose from a petition filed by the minor girl through her father. She was named Lakshmi at birth, but her parents later decided to change her name to Veena, citing astrological and numerological reasons and their belief that the new name would bring prosperity.

The girl’s father subsequently filed a civil suit seeking a declaration recognising her as Veena. However, the trial court dismissed the suit, observing that there was no documentary evidence showing that her name was Veena and that the parents had not first approached her school to change her name.

The High Court disagreed with this reasoning.

It noted that the case involved a change of name and not correction of an incorrectly recorded name. Therefore, the trial court could not have insisted on documents establishing that the girl was already known as Veena.

“This reasoning of the Trial Court is unwarranted,” the High Court observed, noting that the girl was not claiming that her name had been wrongly recorded as Lakshmi at the time of her school admission. Rather, she simply wanted to be recognised as Veena.

The Court also took note of the fact that no one had objected to the proposed name change and that it would not cause any prejudice or harm to the defendants or any other person.

The petitioners had also relied on a Karnataka government circular stating that a civil court decree is required for a change of name. They had placed newspaper notices regarding the proposed change on record.

Allowing the plea, the High Court directed that the minor girl be recognised by her new name, Veena N., instead of Lakshmi N.

“Therefore, the plaintiff is entitled to the relief of change of her name from ‘Lakshmi N.’ to ‘Veena N.,’” the Court held.

Advocate Sampath Kumar AV appeared for the petitioners, while Additional Government Advocate V Seshu represented the State.