Blog Article

Change of name is a process that brings with it a set of legal obligations that need to be complied with. The purpose of these requirements are to ensure that an individual who changes his or her name does so with bonafide intentions and not to cause any fraud or misrepresentation before other individuals or authorities. It is well known that a newspaper publication is required in order to give legal validity to a name change affidavit by mitigating fraud and making such change known to others dealing with such individual. However, the procedure for Gazette notification is riddled with obscurities for most people. The prime reason for this may be attributed to the complex steps involved in getting a simple name change published in the Gazette of India.

LegalDesk.com is a one-stop solution for all your name change needs. Our Name change package gives you the option of Gazette application where every formality will be completed and handed over to you as a kit which you may easily send to the Dept. of Publications, New Delhi.

Let us examine some important questions which would guide you in publishing your name change in the Central Gazette.

Q1: Why should I notify my name change in Gazette?
Gazette Notification can be described as the final step in changing one’s name. Since it is published by the Government, it gives better legal validity to your name change. Many Governmental/Semi-Governmental institutions insist on producing a Gazette copy in order to change your name in their records. For example- UPSC, Income Tax department, UIDAI, Public Sector Banks.

Q2: Why State Gazette?
Though many states publish name changes in their own gazette, many among them publish notifications of government employees only; while private employees and others are given an endorsement stating their non-publishing.  Such endorsements may not be accepted by all governmental agencies for making changes in name.

Q3: Is Gazette notification mandatory for Passport?
No, the Passport Authority of India does not mandate Gazette notification as a prerequisite for changing one’s name in passport. It requires only Annexure E for one’s name change and one local newspaper publication in the place of ordinary residence of the applicant.

Q4: How to apply for Gazette notification?
The Central Gazette office is located at Civil Lines, New Delhi. Residents of Delhi may choose to physically present the required documents or to send it via speed post, like the rest of India.

Q5: What should be included in my Gazette Application?
The Gazette application shall include three individually drafted documents along with copies of affidavit, newspaper, photographs, demand draft and a compact disc containing the notification matter. The documents may be signed by applicant and witnesses before sending to the Gazette authorities.

Q6: How long will I have to wait to get my notification published?
It takes at least 2 months for a notification to get published. The period may be longer owing to various factors. It may be noted that the Gazette department is not fully computerized. Manual processing is one of the reasons for the longer duration coupled with a high backlog from all parts of the country.

Q7: Will I receive any acknowledgement from the department of Publication?
No, there will not be any written acknowledgement given. However, the office may be contacted over telephone to know the file number, which may be used for future reference.

Q8: Will I receive any communication from Gazette authorities on publication?
No, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to go through the electronic copies of the gazette published on egazette.nic.in

Q9: Will I receive hard copies of the Gazette?
All applicants can download the soft copies of the gazette edition and get it printed before submitting before any authority.

Q10: How often is the Gazette updated?
The e-gazette website features a new edition every Saturday.

Q11: How to search if my name change is published?
Following is the method by which a name change may be tracked –

1. Visit egazette.nic.in and click on ‘Search Gazette’ and select ‘Search ExtraOrdinary/Weekly Gazette’.
2. In ‘select category’ click  ‘Weekly Gazette’.Select ‘Part IV’ in ‘Part and Section’ and proceed further by clicking on ‘standard report’. 
3. Select the edition among the ones that appear.
4. If your name is present in the edition, download the file as a pdf for your use.

Q12: I am a Central Government Employee. Is there any additional document that I need to submit?
Central Government Employees are also required to submit a ‘Deed for Change of name’ in accordance to the ministry of home affairs.

Q13: What are the things to be taken care of while sending the gazette application?

• Ensure that the affidavit or annexure for name change is not older than one year. If so,you may need to create another affidavit for the purpose of Gazette notification.
• Ensure that the newspaper advertisement contains father’s or husband’s name.
• The proforma should be accompanied with a photocopy of the same.
• All id proofs, photographs and affidavit copies shall be self-attested by the applicant.
• The C.D proforma shall contain the old name typed in place of signature.
• If there is a change in religion, or adoption of name/surname of another religion, there shall be an undertaking mentioning that, while the newspaper ad shall also mention the same. The charges for such an advertisement shall be different.
  If the above points are not complied with, it leads to untoward delay in publication where the applicant shall be required to submit the corrected versions. It may also be difficult to coordinate additional documents sent owing to the manual methods used in the governmental department of publication.
  

The LegalDesk Way

The easiest way out of the hassles would be to entrust the responsibility to experts! LegalDesk.com has a track record of simplifying gazette procedures for applicants throughout India. LegalDesk.com’s gazette package gives a kit containing all documents ready to be sent to the Gazette authorities.

All the applicant needs to do would be to get it signed and add copies of newspaper (the entire sheet in which the name change ad appears), photographs, id proofs and affidavit to the kit and send it to the department of publications, Delhi. LegalDesk.com saves your effort in finding a lawyer to draft the gazette documents. Our product called name change package includes an automated system which generates the required documents. We shall also arrange for burning of the C.D and procurement of the demand draft of requisite denominations. Visit LegalDesk.com today to avail our services for name change and gazette notification.