Calcutta High Court Allows 15-Year-Old to Adopt Stepfather’s Surname

The Calcutta High Court has permitted a 15-year-old boy to adopt his stepfather’s surname, upholding the rights of custodial parents and recognizing modern family dynamics.
Though the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) opposed the change, the court ruled that surname falls within the scope of Section 454 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, which allows for name alterations.
However, the court denied the plea to change the biological father’s name due to the lack of a legal adoption order. Justice Kaushik Chanda emphasized that statutory time limits can be interpreted flexibly when justified by circumstances.