Ahmedabad: Drowning in repeated requests for name changes on birth certificates, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has introduced a new policy allowing only a one-time correction to the document.

Previously, people frequently requested multiple changes to birth certificates, such as editing names based on astrological advice or removing honorifics like ‘bhai’ or ‘kumari.’ However, such requests will no longer be accommodated. The number of name amendment requests has surged, with over 50,000 applications in the first half of 2024 alone, matching the total for all of 2023. This increase has prompted the AMC to post a notice at the registrar’s office in Arogya Bhavan, outlining the new restrictions.

Under the updated guidelines, corrections to a child’s name, parental details, or other information on the birth certificate can only be made once.

This change stems from the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which was updated in 2007 and 2009. A 2009 state government circular initially allowed name changes, but this provision was revoked in 2016, limiting changes to spelling corrections and the removal of honorifics.

The AMC official also noted that the recent rise in amendment requests is partly due to Aadhaar cards, which require the child’s full name, including the father’s name and surname, while the birth certificate typically only includes the child’s name. This discrepancy has led to an increase in amendment applications to ensure consistency between the birth certificate and Aadhaar card. DeshGujarat