Maharashtra amends rules on birth and death registration to check illegal immigration

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has introduced stricter rules for birth and death registrations in the wake of incidents of illegal immigration, particularly involving Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

“The menace of foreign nationals taking advantage of loopholes in the government system to obtain birth and death registration certificates will now be curbed,” state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the Maharashtra Legislature on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969, has been amended to ensure transparency and curb the distribution of fake certificates in birth and death registration.

“The birth and death certificates are a very important requirement and are also being misused. This act has been amended to prevent this. From now on, no one will be able to misuse this. If done, one will have to face criminal action,” the senior BJP leader said.

The procedure for delayed birth and death registration has been finalised and new changes will be implemented forthwith in Maharashtra as per the decision of the Public Health Department, he said.

Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who had been pursuing the issue, said: “From now on in Maharashtra, be it Bangladeshi, Rohingya or Pakistani, no one will get a delayed birth certificate.”

According to him, 2,23,000 people have obtained certificates based on false documents that they were born in India or Maharashtra. “Now all these would be investigated,” he said, thanking Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“Three levels of verification have been set for issuing these certificates. The certificate will be issued after fulfilling 17 points. However, if the documents attached by the applicant are found to be fake, immediate criminal action will be taken,” said Bawankule.