BMC Crackdown Delays Genuine Birth Certificate Corrections

A recent crackdown on the bogus birth certificate racket in Mumbai has led to delays in genuine name corrections, affecting students applying for foreign visas and other citizens requiring corrected documents.

The issue was raised by corporators across party lines in the BMC general body meeting on Monday, who alleged that innocent applicants are paying the price for the scam.

The civic administration clarified that name correction powers were centralised with the Executive Health Officer (EHO) to curb misuse. However, they have urged the Central Registrar to restore ward-level powers to expedite genuine cases.

BJP corporator Dr Neil Somaiya moved a notice of motion in the BMC general body, demanding a regular audit of the birth registration and certificate issuance system to expose loopholes and prevent further misuse.

Somaiya called for a complete review of registrations, certificate issuance, records and compliance procedures, stating that strict monitoring is essential to safeguard the credibility of civic documents.

The crackdown has left genuine citizens in distress, with students seeking foreign admissions, visa applicants and those requiring corrections in birth certificates facing months-long delays.

Corporators demanded the immediate restoration of ward-level services and a time-bound mechanism to clear the mounting backlog of birth certificate corrections, warning that genuine citizens are bearing the brunt of the bogus certificate crackdown.

Leader of Opposition Kishori Pednekar questioned the administration over the number of fake certificates detected and said honest applicants had become “collateral damage”.

Congress corporator Ajanta Yadav said citizens are making repeated visits to ward offices for minor spelling corrections, leading to overcrowding and increasing pressure on staff.

Another Congress corporator Karen D'Mello claimed applicants have been waiting for six months to over a year for certificates, with many missing visa deadlines.

Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Ankit Prabhu demanded a temporary online mechanism to provide certificates required for foreign university admissions, while Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Chintaman Nivate sought the restoration of powers to ward-level Medical Health Officers (MHO) for issuing certificates to ease delays.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Vipin Sharma said the BMC has detected 19,700 birth certificates lacking supporting documents, which are under scrutiny by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

He added that disciplinary action has been initiated against civic employees and FIRs have been registered in connection with the alleged irregularities.

The BMC's measures to curb the bogus birth certificate racket have highlighted the need for a balance between preventing misuse and providing efficient services to genuine citizens.

The issue has significant implications for Mumbai residents, particularly students and individuals requiring corrected documents for foreign visas or other purposes.

In conclusion, the BMC's crackdown on bogus birth certificates has led to delays in genuine corrections, affecting many citizens. The civic administration must find a way to restore ward-level powers and expedite genuine cases while preventing misuse of the system. This will require a careful balance between security and efficiency, ensuring that honest applicants are not unfairly penalized,