SC pulls up Centre, states for not issuing birth certificates

A bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justice K S Radhakrishna sought reply from the Union government on the provision notified in 1969.

A PIL submitted by Committee for Legal Aid, a voluntary agency, sought direction of the Apex Court to the Centre and the States for mandatory registration of all births and issuance of birth certificate.

Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra said most states had implemented the legal provision. However, the lawyer appearing for the NGO submitted that despite making the registration, authorities were not issuing the birth certificate in many states.