HC: Changing surname doesn’t change caste

Mumbai, May 29

The Bombay HC has provided relief to a medical graduate who was denied admission in a post-graduate course in the Scheduled Tribe category despite possessing valid caste certificate on the ground that he had changed his surname.

The petitioner contended that though he had a Caste Validity Certificate and belonged to Scheduled Tribe, his claim to admission was not being considered on the ground that he has changed his surname. “If the surname is changed, that doesn’t change caste of a person. It is specific contention of the petitioner that the change is notified in government Gazette.”. — PTI