India — The High Court (HC) of the south Indian state of Kerala recently ruled that two young adults were allowed to change their religion in their educational certificates from Hindu to Christian, setting a precedent that a person cannot be tied down to one religion merely by reason of birth.

The ruling given by the HC sets a significant precedent and relief to converts who face legal and social hurdles to change their religion on their official documents across the country.

The HC made this statement while ruling in favor of two young adults from Kochi City in Kerala who changed their religion from Hindu to Christian in their school certificates following their conversion.

Lohith and Logith, 24-year-old twins, were allowed to change their names on their school certificates after they embraced Christianity, but the educational authorities refused to register their new religion in their certificates.

The authorities said there is no specific provision enabling a change of religion in school certificates. Following this, the students filed a plea which was allowed by the Kerala HC.

In its observation, the HC said, “Even if it is to be accepted that there is no provision enabling change of religion entered in school certificates, that is no reason to tie down a person to one religion, merely by reason of his birth. The freedom to practice and profess any religion of one’s choice is guaranteed by Article 25(1) of the Constitution. If a person embraces another religion by exercising that freedom, necessary corrections will have to be made in his records.”

The court also said that refusal to carry out the correction will have an adverse impact on the future of the applicants. Moreover, such rigid approach militates against the Constitutional guarantee.

Lohith and Logith were born to Hindu parents and followed the Hindu religion until May 2017. After that, they decided to embrace Christianity and were baptized at a church in Kochi.

After getting converted, the twins wanted to get their religion changed on their school certificates and got a notification issued by the Government Gazette. They then approached the Controller of Examinations with their request, but it was denied. They were only allowed to change their names.
Sources:persecution

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