CBSE approval must for students willing to change name: DU

New Delhi, Jan 3: Tightening its norms for change of name, a practice which has often been misused during student union elections, Delhi University has made it mandatory to have approval from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for any such request.

"It is hereby clarified that it is mandatory for students seeking change of name to get his or her name changed from CBSE or state boards first," an official communication said.

Earlier, those seeking change of name had to submit newspaper cuttings in original as proof of the advertisement published in this regard in at least two Indian leading dailies, self-declaration on the prescribed format by the applicant, and a copy of the Government of India gazette notification about the change of name.

DU had decided to amend its rules for changing names following a directive from the Delhi High Court which had observed in November last year that the practice among candidates to add an 'A' before their names prior to Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election in order to get themselves listed at the top of the ballot paper "is flawed".

The varsity had last year done away with the contentious provision by barring students from contesting elections on changed names and using only the names registered during admission in DU.

Following an Executive Council meeting, the varsity had in July last year notified new rules for change of name while studying in DU.

"All other rules and regulations notified earlier will remain in place," the communication said.

PTI