IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side Present: The Hon’ble Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi WPA 15191 of 2025 Sanno Devi -vs- The Union of India & Ors. For the Petitioner : Md. Salahuddin, Adv. Md. Raziuddin, Adv. For the Respondent nos. 3 & 4 : Mr. Arya Bhattacharyya, Adv. Heard on : 03.07.2026 Judgment on : 03.07.2026 Md. Shabbar Rashidi, J. : 1. Petitioner and respondent nos. 3 & 4 are represented. 2. A report in the form of affidavit on behalf of the respondents as well as the exception to such report filed on behalf of the petitioner, are taken on record. 3. This is an application seeking the rectification of the name of the petitioner and for releasing of the monthly family pension in favour of the petitioner. 2 4. It is the case of the petitioner that the husband of the petitioner was an employee as Industrial Staff (Khalasi/sweeper) of Indian Government Mint, Alipore. The said husband of the petitioner namely, Mohan Lal Dhanuk died on 30th May, 2009 during the continuous of his service period and was survived by his legal heirs including the present petitioner. After the death of her husband, the petitioner approached the respondent authorities for release of death-cum-retiral benefits in respect of her deceased husband, i.e., Mohan Lal Dhanuk. 5. It is further case of the petitioner that the name of the petitioner was recorded as Sunita Devi Dhanuk on the basis of her Voter Identity card whereas her actual name Sanno Devi, which was recorded in her Pan Card, Aadhar Card and other documents. 6. For the aforesaid reasons, the claim of the petitioner over the pension papers in respect of her deceased husband, Mohan Lal Dhanuk was not admitted. Therefore, the petitioner affirmed an affidavit before the learned Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Alipore declaring that on 27th January, 2017, the petitioner would be known as Sanno Devi, which was her actual name instead of Sunita Devi Dhanuk. Following such affidavit, the petitioner also got a declaration which was published in a Bengali newspaper on 30th September, 2022. 7. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that in spite of such efforts and steps taken by the petitioner, her claim in respect of the 3 post retirement benefit of her deceased husband i.e., Mohan Lal Dhanuk has not been considered by the concerned authorities. 8. Hence, the petitioner has come up with instant writ petition taking following reliefs:- “a) A writ of and/or order in the nature of Mandamus Commanding the respondents, their officers, men and agents and each of them to rectify the name of the petitioner on the basis of affidavit of Court of law and to release the monthly family pension to the petitioner in the rectified name Sanno Devi instead of Sunita Devi Dhanuk alongwith arrear dues of family pension forthwith; b) A writ of and/or order in the nature of Mandamus Commanding the respondents, their officers, men and agents and each of them to show cause as to why they should not be directed to rectify the name of the petitioner as Sanno Devi instead of Sunita Devi Dhanuk on the basis of affidavit of Court of law and to release the monthly family pension to the petitioner in the rectified name along with arrear dues of family pension with 10% interest; c) A writ of and/or order in the nature of certiorari directing the respondents to produce the records and proceedings in connection with this case before this Hon’ble Court so that conscionable justice may be done to the petitioner by giving necessary direction upon the said respondents; d) Rule NISI in terms of prayers (a), (b) and (c), above; e) Grand ad-interim order directing the respondents to release a lump sum amount to the petitioner to mitigate the present hardship of the deceased family on account of dues family pension till the disposal of the Rule; f) To make the Rule absolute; g) Costs and incidental charges to this petition; 4 h) To pass such other or further order or orders as to Your Lordships may deem fit and proper.” 9. By filing a report in the form of an affidavit, the respondents have made out a case that although the petitioner has declared the change of her name, Sunita Devi Dhanuk to Sanno Devi and followed by declaration published in a daily newspaper contemporarily in accordance with rules, the said declaration has to be published in the official gazette issued for the purpose. Besides that, it has also been submitted in the report on behalf of the Union of India that there are other discrepancies in respect of the name and identity of the petitioner as the wife of Mohan Lal Dhanuk. It has been mentioned in the report that the date of birth of the petitioner recorded in the Aadhar card and Pan card are not matching. In addition to the photographs of the petitioner appearing on such documents also do not match with that of the petitioner. Such submission has been made on behalf of the learned advocate for the respondents referring to the annexures-P/1 and P/3 appeared at page 18 to 22 of the writ application. 10. At the time of hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that his client has ready and willing to get the change of her name notified in the official gazette issued in this regard in accordance with law. 5 11. In such circumstances, I am inclined to dispose of the writ application with a direction upon the respondents upon filing an application by the petitioner after publication of the change of name in the official gazette and the respondents shall consider the case of the petitioner in accordance with law taking into consideration that all other documents to be produced by the petitioner. 12. Respondents are directed to consider such application within a month of the application filed by the petitioner after affording reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner/her representative. 13. The respondents will be at liberty to consider all other document/documents and hear such other person/persons as the respondents deem fit and proper. The respondents are directed to communicate its decision to the petitioner within a period of two weeks from the date of such decision on the application so filed on behalf of the petitioner. 14. The writ application being WPA 15191 of 2025 thus stands disposed of. 15. Urgent Photostat certified copy of this judgment, if applied for, be given to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities. (Md. Shabbar Rashidi, J.)