BMC To Regularly Audit Birth Certificate Process Amid Fake Certificate Crackdown

Corporators across party lines seek faster correction of birth records as delays affect passports, visas, overseas education and other essential documents.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved a proposal to conduct regular audits of its birth registration and birth certificate issuance process to strengthen transparency while addressing widespread delays caused by a crackdown on fake birth certificates.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Municipal Corporation after corporators from across political parties raised concerns over the growing backlog in issuing and correcting birth certificates. They said thousands of genuine applicants are facing long delays, affecting passport applications, visa processing, higher education abroad and other important documentation.

The demand for regular audits was raised by BJP corporator Dr. Neel Somaiya, who called for a stronger verification mechanism to prevent misuse of municipal documents while ensuring that genuine citizens are not inconvenienced.

Opposition leader Kishori Pednekar criticised the situation, saying honest citizens should not become “scapegoats” because of fraudulent cases. Several corporators urged the civic administration to immediately resume a smoother certificate issuance process while continuing action against those involved in the alleged scam.

The delays stem from an ongoing investigation into nearly 19,700 birth records that were allegedly issued without the required supporting documents. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining these records, while disciplinary action has been initiated against concerned civic employees and FIRs have been registered.

Corporators pointed out that many residents have been waiting six months to a year for corrections to birth records. They said students planning to study overseas are among the worst affected, as birth certificates are mandatory for admissions, visas and passport-related formalities.

Some corporators suggested temporarily restoring online correction facilities to reduce the heavy rush at ward offices. Others urged the civic body to return correction powers to ward-level Medical Health Officers, which had earlier helped process applications more quickly.

Responding to the concerns, Additional Municipal Commissioner Vipin Sharma said the birth and death registration system had shifted from the older SAP platform to the Civil Registration System (CRS). Although the migration began in 2016, the correction module became operational only in January 2024. Since then, nearly 90,000 correction requests have been processed.

Sharma said the BMC is also digitising birth records dating back to 1960 to improve verification and speed up future corrections. He added that the transition to the new system, staff training and updated guidelines from the Central Registrar contributed to initial delays, but measures are being taken to streamline the process.

The civic body has also sent a proposal to the Central Registrar seeking restoration of ward-level editing powers, which could help reduce the current backlog once approved.

FAQs

1. Why are birth certificate corrections getting delayed in Mumbai?
Delays have increased after the BMC centralised approval of corrections following an investigation into nearly 19,700 suspected fake birth records.

2. How many birth certificate corrections has the BMC processed?
According to the BMC, around 90,000 correction requests have been processed since the correction module became operational in January 2024.

3. Why are birth certificates important for many applicants?
Birth certificates are essential for passports, visas, overseas education, government documentation and several legal and administrative purposes.