Birth and Death Certificate Rules: The central government is set to implement significant changes to the law governing the registration of births and deaths. Once these changes take effect, they may create additional challenges for individuals. The proposed legislation indicates that if a child’s birth or an individual’s death is not registered promptly, it could lead to considerable difficulties in obtaining the necessary documentation later on. The registration process may become increasingly complex.
Reports suggest that the central government is gearing up to revise the Registration of Births and Deaths Act. The proposal outlines that if someone applies for a birth certificate more than two years after a child’s birth, or if a family seeks to register a death more than two years post-event, they will need to secure an order from a First Class Judicial Magistrate. Sources indicate that the Union Home Ministry presented this amendment proposal to the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, with a final decision still pending.
What does the new proposal entail?
Under the current regulations, if an individual fails to register a birth or death for a year or longer and later wishes to do so, they must obtain permission from the appropriate District Magistrate (DM), Sub-District Magistrate (SDM), or Executive Magistrate. This process is finalized once the application receives approval.
However, under the new rules, permission from the DM or SDM will be valid for a period of up to two years. If the delay surpasses this timeframe, individuals will be required to approach the court. For delays exceeding two years, permission must now be sought from a first-class judicial magistrate.
What does the new proposal entail?
It will be compulsory to register a birth or death within 21 days. In cases where registration is delayed by 30 days to 1 year, it can be completed with written consent from the District Registrar or an authorized officer, along with the necessary fee and documentation. According to the existing system, for delays of 1 to 2 years, the approval of the DM/SDM or Executive Magistrate will suffice. If the delay is more than 2 years, registration will be possible only after the order of the First Class Judicial Magistrate.
Why is the government making this change?
The government is making all the changes for many reasons.The government believes that it is essential that birth and death records are recorded timely and digitally.Timely recording of these records will enable better planning of government schemes. Population and health data will be more accurate. Fake or wrongful late registration will be prohibited. The digital Civil Registration System (CRS) will be further strengthened. In such a situation, if this amendment proposal is implemented then it will be difficult to get this registration done in the coming days.