HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.22421of 2010 Date 08.09.2010 Between: Akkladevi Eshwar Prasad and others. ..... PETITIONER AND The Government of A.P. rep. By its Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue, Hyderabad & others. .....RESPONDENTS Counsel for the petitioner :Sri Md.Muslehuddin Asim Counsel for the Respondents : Assistant Government Pleader for Home HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.22421 of 2010 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to declare the action of respondent Nos.2 and 3 in not changing the names of the petitioners as illegal and arbitrary. I have heard Sri Md.Muslehuddin Asim, learned Counsel for the petitioners, and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue representing the respondents. The petitioners, who are the members belonging to one family, claimed to have changed their religion from Hinduism to Islam. As a consequence of this change, the petitioners wanted to change their names. They have applied to respondent No.3 in the prescribed forms for change of their names. The grievance of the petitioners is that though the said applications are pending from February, 2010, they are not being disposed of. At the hearing, learned Counsel for the petitioners, submitted that respondent No.3 is refusing to process the petitioners’ applications on the ground that the circular No.D5/7096/2003, dated 25.08.2008 prohibits change of complete name. Learned Counsel relied on G.O(P).No.819 General Administration (General-C) Department, dated 08.12.1977 and submitted that the said G.O. does not create any bar on a citizen to change his name completely. After a careful consideration of the said G.O. and the circular dated 25.08.2008, I am of the opinion that a person, who seeks change of his name consequent on change of his religion, cannot be prevented from doing so. Though the circular referred to above creates a bar on processing of the cases involving change of complete name, the said circular runs counter to the G.O. However, a citizen has a right to profess any religion of his choice and change of religion invariably involves change of name. The State cannot insist that a citizen cannot change his name and deny him such a right. Therefore, respondent No.3 is directed to process the applications of the petitioners without raising any objection on the ground of complete change of names by the petitioners and take appropriate steps, in accordance with G.O(P).No.819, dated 08.12.1977, within a period of two months. The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. As a sequel to disposal of the main petition, WPMP.No.28584 of 2010 filed by the petitioners for interim relief is disposed of as infructuous. C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY,J Date:08.09.2010 usd