Doctor must correct name in educational documents to appear for medical officer recruitment exam: Rajasthan HC denies relief

Jaipur: In a recent ruling, the Rajasthan High Court said that it is a must for a doctor to get his name corrected in his educational documents if he seeks to participate in the Medical Officer Direct Recruitment Examination, 2026, under his changed name.

With this observation, the Rajasthan HC bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand denied granting relief to a petitioner doctor, observing that the petitioner is required to correct his name in his school and college records first.

"This Court is of the considered opinion that until and unless the name of the petitioner is corrected in the school/college documents, the relief sought for in the instant writ petition cannot be granted to him," observed the HC bench.

"The petitioner would be at liberty to approach the respondents again for carrying out the aforesaid necessary correction in his name. In case, his name is rectified in the school/college documents by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education and RUHS, the same may be thereafter furnished to the concerned authorities for doing the needful," it further ordered.

Case Background:

The petitioner's existing Medical Registration Certificate issued by the Rajasthan Medical Council bears his former name. He moved the High Court seeking a direction to the authorities to permit the petitioner to participate in the Medical Officer Direct Recruitment Examination, 2026 under his present and legally notified name and not to reject or invalidate his application merely because his existing Medical Registration Certificate issued by the Rajasthan Medical Council bears his former name.

Further, he sought direction to Rajasthan Medical Council to take appropriate consequential steps to issue him with a revised Medical Registration Certificate reflecting his present legal name.

His counsel submitted that even though the petitioner's educational documents mention his former name, after passing the Degree Course, he changed his name and in this regard, a notification was also published in the Rajasthan Gazette by the Government of Rajasthan on 04.06.2026, which reflects his new name in the place of his former name.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that based on the notification published in the Rajasthan Gazette, he submitted applications before the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) as well as before the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) for rectification of his name. RUHS has passed an Office Order on 30.09.2026 by which SMS Medical College Jaipur has been directed to issue Migration Certificate to the petitioner for MBBS, 2019 reflecting his new name.

It was further submitted that so far, the application submitted by him before the RMC, for the necessary change, the status of the said application is showing as "Approved By Registrar". Referring to this, the counsel urged the Court to issue directions to the authorities not only to correct the educational documents of the petitioner, but also allow him to participate in the recruitment process with the new name.

On the other hand, the counsel for the authorities opposed the arguments and submitted that the petitioner was granted admission to the MBBS course based on the educational qualification documents, where his former name was mentioned. It was submitted that until and unless the name of the petitioner is corrected in his school/college documents, the desired relief cannot be granted to the petitioner and his name cannot be changed in the MBBS course, and the same cannot be registered with the RMC.

Observations by High Court:

Considering the arguments by the petitioner's counsel and taking note of the fact that RUHS has already issued an Office Order directing the SMS Medical College for issuing Migration Certificate to the petitioner with the name reflecting both his former and present name. "The RUHS may issue the Migration Certificate to the petitioner with the aforesaid clarification," observed the HC bench.

The Court opined that until and unless the petitioner's name got corrected in the school/college documents, the relief sought could not be granted. The bench granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the authorities again for carrying out the necessary correction.

However, while disposing of the plea, it clarified, "Before parting with the order, it is made clear that this Court has not issued any direction to any of the authorities to change the name of the petitioner in his educational documents, registration certificate, etc. They would be at liberty to proceed with the application (if any) submitted by the petitioner strictly in accordance with law."

To view the order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/2026/10/24/vs-state-of-rajasthan-480790.pdf

Also Read: Rajasthan HC Denies Relief to MBBS Student Unable to Clear Course in 14 Years