The High Courts of Allahabad and Delhi ruled that the right to change one’s name or surname is a part of the right to life under Article 21.
The action of denial of changing name by authorities, violated the fundamental rights of the petitioner guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a), Article 21, and Article 14 of the Constitution.
Earlier, the Kerala HC ruling in “Kashish Gupta vs. Central Board of Secondary Education” (2020), stating, “To have a name and to express the same in the manner he wishes, is certainly a part of the rights in Article 19 (1)(a) and Article 21.