Change of Surname not to reflect change in caste of person

Bombay High Court: Hearing a writ petition, a bench comprising of B.R. Gavai and S.P. Joshi, JJ granted ad interim relief to the Petitioner seeking admission in post- graduate studies by clarifying that change in surname does not reflect change in caste. The Court found that the petitioner indeed possessed a ‘Validity Certificate’ showing his status as a member of the Scheduled Tribes, and the change of his name had been duly notified in the Government Gazette and thereby directed the respondents to consider the petitioner’s claim for admission from the reservation category. [Shantanu Hari Bhardwaj v. State of Maharashtra, 2016 SCC OnLine Bom 3863, decided on 23-05-16]