School leaving certificate valid proof of age: SC

Matriculation or the school leaving certificate is a valid proof of age, but it does not mean a Higher Secondary School leaving document could not be used for the purpose, the Supreme Court has held. Higher Secondary School leaving certificate is also proof of age, the SC has ruled, expanding the age certificate criteria. Earlier, a school leaving certificate or secondary school certificate was considered as age proof. "No doubt, certain documents are specified in the eligibility criteria which would be accepted by the Corporation (authorities) as proof of age. In case, a copy of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate can be accepted as proof of age, it does not even strike to common sense as to why the copy of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate, duly attested, cannot be accepted as proof of age,” a bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman said. The apex court clarified the legal position while allowing an appeal filed by Hina against a Bombay High Court order, which rejected her plea for allotment of retail outlet or petroleum or diesel dealership on the ground she submitted higher secondary certificate instead of secondary school certificate as criterion for age. "It is seen from the eligibility criteria, even an affidavit was sufficient as proof of age. Be that as it may, in case, the copy of the secondary school leaving certificate meets the requirement of the eligibility criteria, we fail to understand as to how it makes a difference in case the school leaving certificate is of the Higher Secondary School,” the bench said. The court allowed the appellant for participation in the selection process for the dealership while clarifying that it has not amended the criteria. DHNS