Malegaon – Waseem Raza Khan
The Maharashtra government has suspended the process of issuing delayed birth and death certificates after allegations surfaced that Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants had obtained fake certificates in Malegaon and other parts of the state.
The issue came to light after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that thousands of fake birth certificates had been issued to Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in Malegaon and Amravati districts. Somaiya claimed that 4,318 individuals in Malegaon and 4,537 in Amravati were issued fake birth certificates based on forged documents.
In response to these allegations, the Maharashtra government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT, headed by the Director Inspector General (DIG) of Nashik, will investigate the allegations and submit a report with recommendations to address the issue.
The state government has also taken steps to address the issue of illegal immigration, with the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arresting 60 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in 2024.
The Birth and Death Registration Act of 1969 required registration of births and deaths within a specified timeframe. If this wasn’t done, citizens had to undergo a court process to obtain birth or death certificates. To simplify this process, the Act was amended in 2023, granting district magistrates or sub-divisional magistrates the authority to issue delayed birth and death certificates.
These officials have further delegated this power to Tahsildars, who serve as Taluka Magistrates. This change aims to make it easier for citizens to obtain these essential documents. The amended Act also introduces provisions for a national database of birth and death registrations, electronic certificates, and the use of Aadhaar numbers to verify identities.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that issuing fake certificates to illegal immigrants is equivalent to granting them Indian citizenship. He claimed that certain powers are involved in this treasonous act. Following this, the state government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
In response, the Revenue and Forest Department of the state government has suspended the process of issuing delayed birth and death certificates. The department’s Under Secretary, Mahesh Varudkar, sent a letter to all District Collectors and Divisional Commissioners, stating that the process should be halted until further orders.
This move aims to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining fake certificates, which could potentially grant them Indian citizenship. The state government’s decision is a precautionary measure to ensure the integrity of the certification process.
It has been revealed that there has been a sudden and significant increase in the number of people obtaining delayed birth certificates in cities like Malegaon and Amravati. Complaints have been filed alleging that this surge is due to Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants obtaining fake certificates.
