Vadodara Father Takes Legal Action Over School's Alleged Unauthorized Surname Change
A resident of Gotri in Vadodara has filed a formal complaint of cheating, forgery, and criminal breach of trust at the Atladara police station. The complaint targets both his estranged wife and the school where his two daughters are currently enrolled. The central allegation revolves around the illegal alteration of his daughters' surnames in official school records without seeking his permission or obtaining a court order.
Background of the Family Dispute
According to the detailed complaint, the relationship between the complainant and his wife deteriorated significantly several years ago. This followed allegations of an extramarital affair involving the wife. Subsequently, the wife relocated from Gurgaon to Mehsana, where she admitted their daughters to a local school. In 2021, she moved again, this time to Vadodara, and enrolled the children at Vibgyor School located on Bil Road.
The complainant, a 44-year-old human resources professional originally from Delhi, provided crucial documentation. He stated that the school leaving certificate issued by the previous institution in Mehsana clearly carried his name and surname. However, upon admission to Vibgyor School in Vadodara, his name and surname were allegedly removed from the records. In their place, the mother's surname was added to the daughters' official school documents.
Legal and Administrative Challenges
The father firmly asserts that the school administration does not possess the legal authority to make such fundamental changes to a student's identity without explicit parental consent or a directive from a competent court. He emphasized that this action constitutes a serious violation of parental rights and established educational protocols.
In his pursuit of justice, the complainant contacted officials from the state education department. They reportedly informed him that a school cannot unilaterally change a student's name in this manner, reinforcing his legal stance. The FIR further contains serious allegations against the estranged wife. The complainant claims she changed the surnames of both daughters to potentially facilitate leaving the country, alleging her involvement in certain undisclosed scams. He noted that she is currently employed in Surat.
Attempts at Resolution and Escalation to Court
The father detailed his efforts to resolve the matter amicably before resorting to legal action. He contacted the school authorities last year, formally requesting the restoration of his daughters' original surnames as per the previous records. The school management allegedly assured him that the necessary corrections would be made to the records.
However, when the school failed to follow through on this assurance and restore the surnames, the complainant was compelled to take the matter to court. He filed a case in August of last year. The judicial process culminated just four days ago when the court issued a directive to the police, instructing them to register a formal complaint based on the father's petition.
Acting on this court order, the Atladara police station officially registered the First Information Report (FIR) on Saturday night. The case now sets a precedent regarding parental rights and institutional responsibility in maintaining accurate student records, highlighting a significant conflict at the intersection of family law and educational administration.
