UIDAI red flags multiple birth certificates in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 24 2024: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Regional Office, Guwahati, has raised concerns over irregularities in the issuance and cancellation of birth certificates in Manipur, which are impacting the Aadhaar update process.

The regional office also cautioned that continuous violation of the guidelines will lead to rejection of requests made by residents for updates on date of birth from the stale In future.

In letter dated October 15 Regional Office director Col Abhishek Koushik, addressed the issue to the state's home commissioner, emphasising the Importance of adherence to "The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969" .

The let ter highlighted that Aadhaar, as the most widely accepted proof of identity, requires accurate demographic details such as name, date of birth, and gender.

Errors during the enrolment process can be corrected within prescribed limits.

However, if corrections exceed these limits, cases are referred to Regional Offices for due diligence under the Exceptional Handling Process, as outlined in Aadhaar (Enrolment & Update) Regulations, 2016, and relevant SOPs.

Col Koushik pointed out that, for updating the date of birth through the Exceptional Handling Process, only the birth certificate Is considered an acceptable document.

Upon scrutiny of cases from Manipur, it was observed that residents frequently submit multiple birth certificates to update their Aadhaar details.

However, unlike other states, Manipur does not follow a pro cedure to cancel previously issued birth certificates officially.

In Manipur, when residents are asked to cancel old certificates, they often present a cancellation certificate typed on plain paper without any official reference or control number.

Moreover, the cancellation details of the previous certificate are not endorsed in the newly issued document.

In some instances, residents have updated their date of birth in Aadhaar multiple times using various birth certificates is sued on different dates, (here have even been cases where residents revert to their first birth ccrtitieate, raising doubts about the validity of previously issued documents.

The letter warned that such practices could lead to mis use of Aadhaar, undermining its purpose as a secure and cost effective digital identity.

UIDAI requested the Manipur government to ensure adherence to "The Registration Births and Deaths Act, 1969 specifically Clause 15, which mandates the correction or cancellation of entries in t he register.

Failure to comply could result in the rejection of date of birth update requests from Manipur residents ini the future.

Meanwhile, a concerned parent, who was visiting] the office of the sub-registrar of birth and death to seek a new birth certificate, told The People's Chronicle that the school authority of his son changed the date of birth without in forming him.

His son is In 9th standard.

Since the school authority had changed the date of birth, he has no choice but to change his son's date of birth in the Aadhaar to resolve future complications, which [is why he was visiting the office to obtain a new birth certificate.

TPC talked to a sub-registrar of birth and death in this regard, who said that such activities from the school authorities undermine the career and opportunities for many people.

"It is one of the most surprising thing for school authorities to change the date of birth of an entire class to the same period, many of which have same date of birth," he said adding that the education department needs to issue strict directives to the school authorities to refrain from such activities and use the date of birth submitted at the time of admission to the school.

Maximum of the cases raised by UIDAI centres on school authority changing date of birth for their students.

Such things happen when a student enrol in the 9th standard as their names have to be registered with the state board, the official said.

The sub-registrar also said that many of the birth certificates were issued before the whole process is done online.

As such, there may be cases when parents keep safe the previous birth certificates for future eventualities.

Considering the issue flagged by UIDAI, the officer appealed to the public to bring the previous birth certificates for cancellation if they want new birth certificates in order to avoid future complications.

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