In a significant and landmark ruling, the Gujarat High Court has declared that the date of birth mentioned in government-issued documents like Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving license cannot be treated as the final proof of an individual’s actual date of birth. The court emphasized that only the date recorded in the official birth and death registration register will be deemed legally valid.
Background of the Case
A petitioner approached the Gujarat High Court seeking to revise his official date of birth to match the dates recorded in various government-issued identity documents. According to the petitioner, his birth date is August 20, 1990, as listed in documents such as his school leaving certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, voter ID, and driving license. However, his birth certificate, issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), recorded his birth date as August 16, 1990. The petitioner requested the court to direct the AMC to amend his birth certificate to align with the other government documents.
Court’s Verdict
The Gujarat High Court dismissed the petition and upheld that only the birth certificate should be considered the final and legally valid proof of birth date. The court noted that the petitioner’s hospital records confirmed his actual birth date as August 16, 1990, which matched the date recorded in the birth certificate. In contrast, the other documents, including the school leaving certificate, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving license, were based on information provided by the petitioner or his family. As a result, these documents could not be considered as conclusive proof.
🚨 The date of birth recorded in documents such as Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences cannot be considered as final proof. Only the birth certificate date will be deemed as official – Gujarat High Court. pic.twitter.com/gaQza9GbeT
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) February 20, 2025
Legal Reasoning Behind the Decision
The court reasoned that a birth certificate, being issued based on hospital records, is the most reliable and accurate proof of a person’s date of birth. Other documents are prone to errors and modifications, making them unreliable for determining a person’s actual birth date. Given the authenticity and accuracy of birth certificates, the court ruled that they must be treated as the ultimate and legally binding evidence of date of birth.
Implications for Future Cases
This ruling sets a crucial precedent for similar cases in the future, establishing that any person seeking to rectify their date of birth in government records must rely on the date registered in their birth certificate as the definitive proof. This decision clarifies legal ambiguity and ensures uniformity in birth record verification processes across various governmental and legal institutions.