Publicize Facilities Available For Registration Of Births And Deaths: Delhi HC To Municipal Corporations [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court has directed Municipal Corporations to widely publicize the facilities and procedures available for registration and obtainment of birth and death certificates.

The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar directed, "In view thereof, let a copy of this order be served by the Registry upon the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation as well as the New Delhi Municipal Council through their Chairpersons who shall also take all steps as are essential for notifying the public at large about the available facilities regarding registration of births and deaths."

The Court was hearing a PIL filed by one Ms. Nashrin Khatun, who had pointed out difficulties in obtaining birth certificates of the children of residents of Shakur Basti, Yamuna Khadar, Chilla Khadar and Kalyanpuri.

She had, hence, prayed for a direction to the State to start a single window operating system for quick issuance of birth certificates from a single office, in order to make it easier for marginalized people to receive birth certificates.

During the hearing, the Court took note of the submission made by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which had informed it that all empanelled hospitals are authorized to upload the birth/death events in the data base of the EDMC website through their allotted designated login and password.

Taking note of this submission and all the other facilities that it was made aware of, the Court observed, "Given the nature of issues which have been raised and stand addressed by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation as noted above, we are of the view that every Municipal Corporations concerned with the registration of birth and death deserves to undertake similar steps."

The Standing Counsels for South Delhi Municipal Corporation as well as North Delhi Municipal Corporation were then directed to ensure compliance with the order.