Beware of fake death, birth papers: Registrar General of India

The Registrar General of India (RGI) has warned states against the issuance of fake birth and death registration certificates by authorities.

In a letter to the states, the RGI said, "A few state governments have reported issuance of fake birth and death certificates including misuse of user and login ID and password created in the existing portal developed for online registration of birth and death, by unauthorised persons."

Under the Registration of Birth and Death (RBD) Act, 1969, a meagre penalty of '50 is levied for violations.


On Monday, the Supreme Court, while approving the National Disaster Management Authority's proposal, ordered that no state should deny an ex-gratia compensation of '50,000 to the kin of persons who died of Covid-19 on the sole plea that the death certificate does not mention Covid-19 as the cause of death.

Home ministry officials said the advisory was sent by the RGI to states in the wake of reports of fake birth and death certificates issued in June-July this year, when Covid-19 cases were at their peak.

"In August this year, more than 250 fake birth and death certificates were reportedly issued within one week after hacking into the website of Agra municipal corporation. Similarly, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered a probe against three of its employees for allegedly using fake death certificates of at least 23 villagers," said an official, who did not wish to be identified.

The RGI's letter further said, "To avoid misuse of online portals, the details of active users in states, districts and hospitals may be checked, verified and updated on a regular basis in the database preferably every month."