The petitioner, originally named Rishu Jaiswal in CBSE records, sought to update his name to Kabir Jaiswal after legally changing it on official documents like Aadhaar. The CBSE refused, citing its regulations permitting name changes only if the original school records contained errors. The court ruled that names are integral to identity and fall under Article 19(1)(a) (free expression) and Article 21 (privacy/dignity). It held that CBSE, as a society, lacked statutory authority to enforce such restrictions, as its regulations were merely executive instructions, not “law” under Article 19(2) to justify curbing fundamental rights. Even if deemed “law,” the restriction was deemed unreasonable. Balancing practical concerns, the court directed CBSE to update the name as “Kabir Jaiswal alias/nee Rishu Jaiswal”, citing precedent (Rayaan Chawla).
