Kolkata, July 23 — The West Bengal government on Thursday announced the decision to strip the political heads of urban civic bodies such as municipal corporations and municipalities, and rural civic bodies like panchayats, of the authority to issue birth and death certificates.
Announcing this at a press conference, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal said henceforth only government officials will be authorised to issue birth and death certificates.
“The state Health Department will distribute responsibilities to officials across the state in the matter,” Agarwal said.
He noted that birth certificates are vital documents and in recent times, repeated complaints have surfaced regarding fake certificates.
“These errors were mainly noticed during the special intensive revision exercise before the state assembly polls. Several complaints have also been received by the police. Fake birth certificates have been detected in many places. Many have taken advantage of that,” Agarwal added.
He further said strict action will be taken against any officials responsible for issuing birth and death certificates.
Agarwal announced that all certificates registered since 1997 will be verified and, on that basis, a database will be created.
“That database will be linked to the central portal. In that case, a door‑to‑door survey will be conducted. Those who do not have certificates will be given a hearing. Illegal certificates will be cancelled. No one has anything to get scared of. Verification of birth certificates is just a rule. Government officials will verify it. No contractual worker will verify it,” he said.
His announcement came amid statewide raids and search operations being conducted by state police to bust rackets issuing fake birth and death certificates during the special intensive revision exercise, aimed at including fake voters in the electoral rolls.
Raids and search operations are being conducted in Suri, Rampurhat, and Dubrajpur in Birbhum district; Cooch Behar town in Cooch Behar district; and the industrial township in West Burdwan district, among others.