#birth certificate

Gujarat HC upholds acquittal: birth certificate without source verification cannot prove minority, making POCSO presumption inapplicable. Victim's conduct - no outcry, voluntary travel, non-disclosure - negated kidnapping and rape under Sections 363, 366, 376 IPC. Proven age is a jurisdictional prerequisite for POCSO; voluntary accompaniment by a minor defeats kidnapping charges.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that a birth certificate proving Indian birth overrides an adverse police verification report for passport applications under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955. It directed the Regional Passport Officer, Shimla to conduct fresh verification within two weeks and issue the passport, affecting applicants whose citizenship is questioned despite documentary proof of birth in India.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that statutory public documents like birth certificates, Aadhaar, and passports take precedence over school records when correcting a student's date of birth on CBSE certificates. This sets a binding standard for educational boards nationwide, ensuring identity consistency across government systems and protecting individuals from administrative errors rooted in institutional negligence.

Bombay High Court holds that accurate birth records must be corrected using documentary proof, even after one-year window, affirming the right to identity under Article 21.