What Is Gazette Notification For Name Change?
Date : 28 Jul, 2023
Post By admin
Introduction
Changing name has become a trend nowadays, as people wish to have modern names, they want fancy names. There are other reasons as well for name change such as in India the tradition is that the bride will change her surname and adds her husband’s surname. People change name considering astrology, numerology, religious reasons etc.
Gazette
It is a government document that is issued by the concerned authority to regularize the mistakes in documents or records or for other reasons and purposes. A person can apply for gazette to change one’s name, to change in religion or to change in date of birth. One can change or modify name if it is misspelled or if a person wishes to change name or surname or both after marriage.
Let’s see below the valid reasons for name change by people in India.
Reasons for name change in India
There are a number of reasons mentioned below for name change in official gazette.
☑️ Initial name is missing or not expanded
☑️ Middle name or last name is missing
☑️ Name or the spelling differs in certificates issued in school or colleges
☑️ Name is different in identity documents
☑️ Name is wrongly spelt by mistake or during translation from local language to English
☑️ Change in name or surname after marriage for women
☑️ Change in name by woman after divorce
☑️ Change in name after re-marriage
☑️ Change of name in birth certificate and school leaving certificate
☑️ Name correction due to spelling error
☑️ Changing name of a child in case of adoption
☑️ Changing name due to numerology or astrology
☑️ Change in name due to religion
☑️ Change in name by Bollywood stars to adopt fancy and easy to remember names
☑️ Change of name for personal reasons
☑️ Changing name of a minor child
The reasons mentioned above are the valid reasons based on which a person can apply for name change in India. As one cannot change name if the grounds or reasons are not legal. Such as one cannot change name for committing fraud or for hiding identity for financial debts, or wish to change name after committing any offence or change name to commit an offence. All these reasons are not valid and name change for such reasons are prohibited.
Procedure to change name
The procedure to change name comprise of three major steps that are mentioned below:
1. Create an affidavit for change of name
2. Publish about your name change in Newspaper
3. Notify it in State Gazette
Documents Required For Name Change in Gazette
Following documents are required for name change in Gazette:
☑️ Identity (ID) Proof: Passport, Driving License, Aadhar Card or PAN Card
☑️ Address Proof: For this you need Aadhar Card or Electricity Bill or Ration Card
☑️ Photograph: Two Passport Size Photo is required
Gazette Notification For Name Change
The publication of name change is a mandate for government employees and it is optional for others. If one needs to update their name in the certificates and identity cards, there you might be asked for a copy of Gazette notification.
Hence, it is recommended that you must publish your name change in gazette. For the same, you have to visit the office of Controller of publication, Govt. press in your State.
☑️ You need the following documents for publishing of name change in the State Gazette:
☑️ An affidavit is required that is duly signed by the applicant and it must be attested by Judicial Magistrate/Notary.
☑️ You need an original newspaper where name change advertisement is given.
☑️ Prescribed proforma that must be computer typed and not handwritten containing the signatures of applicant and two witnesses.
☑️ A compact disc is required containing the soft copy of the typed content of the application in MS Word format. The applicant’s old name has to be given in the place of signature.
☑️ A certificate in which the applicant declares that the contents included in both soft copy and hard copy are similar. The applicant should duly sign the certificate.
☑️ Two passport size photos are required, both needs to be self-attested by the applicant.
☑️ A photocopy of a valid identity proof, self-attested by the applicant.
☑️ A request letter is needed along with the required fees.
General Steps for Name Change in Gazette
☑️ Verification of the documents
☑️ An application needs to be drafted
☑️ The requisite documents are to be dispatched
☑️ Publication of name change in the newspaper
☑️ Filing of an application along with the requisite documents i.e. the affidavit, copy of original newspaper and the application for publication in an official Gazette
Charges for name change
It might cost you around INR 2500 to 3000 to change your name, however, the same varies from one State to another. Following are few of the charges included in the procedure:
Affidavit - INR 20 stamp paper
Notary charges - INR 200
CD - INR 50
Newspaper - INR 750
Gazette Notification - INR 1500
Conclusion
There are a number of valid reasons to change your name as described above. For government employees it is a mandate to publish their name change in the gazette but there is no such compulsion for others. However, it is advised that one must publish their name change in the gazette.
FAQ's
Q1: What is gazetted?
Ans: It is a government document that is issued by the concerned authority to regularize the mistakes in documents or records or for other reasons and purposes.
Q2: Where is the Controller of Publication, Department of Publication, established?
Ans: It is established in Civil Lines, Delhi-110054, Behind Vidhan Sabha, Near Vidhan Sabha Metro Station.
Q3: Is it mandatory to publish name change in official gazette?
Ans: No, there is no such mandate for general public, however, it is mandatory for a government employee. But it is recommended to get your name published in the gazette.
Q4: Can I check my name change status online?
Ans: Yes, you can check your name change status online. For the same, you need to visit http://www.egazette.nic. There one can know about the status of documents.
Q5: How can Name Change Gazette be downloaded?
Ans: You can do so by visiting the government website http://www.egazette.nic.in. Through this link you will be able to download the gazette certificate.
Follow the given steps to download the online gazette certification:
1. At homepage go to ‘search gazette’ option.
2. Select the ‘weekly gazette’.
3. Opt for ‘Part IV’.
4. Select the dates as per your preference when your notification will get published.
5. Click on the ‘Standard Report’ after that the downloaded link will be provided to you.
6. You can download your Gazette Certificate in the pdf file.
7. Press Ctrl + F to find your old or new name, download the entire Gazette to create your own copy.
This article was written by Shivangi Dubey, an extremely established lawyer. Shivangi Dubey holds a BSL-LLB degree from ILS Pune & also is a gold medalist in LLM-Business laws from Amity University. With 12 years of experience in the law domain, she has established herself as an expert in her field. Presently, Shivangi works as an Advocate at the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Government of India. Her expertise as well as insights have considerably added to the content of this article.
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