"Prima facie, It Is A Mess": Allahabad High Court Seeks Explanation From UP Health Department Regarding Double Birth Issuance Of Birth Certificates

The Allahabad High Court called upon the Principal Secretary of the Department of Medical and Health to file a detailed affidavit and provide an explanation regarding the issuance of two birth certificates of a person, but at two different places.

Based on the High Court’s Order, the Deputy Director, UIDAI Regional Office Lucknow, which has annexed two birth certificates of the petitioner, both issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths from the Primary Health Center at Manauta shows the date of birth of the petitioner as 10.12.2007, issued and registered on 21.08.2020. The second certificate shows the date of registration as 14.11.2022, issued by the Gram Panchayat, Harsinghpur, which shows the date of birth as 01.01.2005, and the date of registration as 14.11.2022.

The Bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anish Kumar Gupta observed that, “Prima facie, it's a mess. It appears that anyone at any point of time can get a date of birth certificate issued with whichever date they want from wherever in the State. In one way, this shows the extent of dishonesty existing at all levels, and how easy it is to get these documents made which can be used as strong prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein, even for criminal prosecutions.”

Further bench stated, “In order to clarify the situation, the Principal Secretary, Department of Medical and Health, which department is in-charge of issuing these certificates, is called upon to file a detailed affidavit and give an explanation regarding the state of affairs existing in his department, specifically in relation to the issuance of birth certificates…If the system is broken, he shall also suggest what steps the department proposes to take forthwith to rectify this anomaly existing in the system and ensure that only one birth certificate is ever issued.”

Advocate Gyanendra Kumar Saini appeared for the Petitioner, and A.S.G.I., Rajesh Tripathi appeared for the Respondent.

Cause Title: Shivanki v. Union Of India And 2 Others (WRIT - C No. - 40200 of 2025)

Appearance:

Petitioner Advocate Gyanendra Kumar Saini and Advocate Sheikh Moazzam Inam 

Respondent A.S.G.I., Rajesh Tripathi

Click here to read/download the order