Pune: Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday ordered an immediate statewide audit of fraudulent birth and death certificates. He directed officials to cancel all documents issued solely on the basis of Aadhaar and lodge FIRs against applicants found submitting inconsistent or fabricated details. The directive follows a high-level review with additional chief secretaries of home and revenue departments, prompted by a surge in complaints regarding forged certificates. These documents are reportedly being used to access govt schemes, manipulate property records, and alter identity profiles. Following the meeting, the revenue department circulated a 16-point verification protocol to district collectors, divisional commissioners, sub-divisional officers (SDOs), and tehsildars. The protocol reiterates that under central rules, Aadhaar cannot be treated as standalone proof of date or place of birth. Officials have been instructed to withdraw and cancel registration orders issued by nayab tehsildars following the Aug 11, 2023, amendment, which is now under scrutiny for procedural lapses. Certificates sanctioned without supporting documentation — particularly those relying exclusively on Aadhaar — would be treated as defective and annulled. The state has adopted a strict stance on enforcement. Any mismatch between an applicant’s declaration and their Aadhaar-linked date of birth would trigger immediate police action. Beneficiaries who fail to surrender bogus certificates or cannot be traced would be declared absconding and booked. District offices must also maintain a digital trail of all cancellations and enforcement steps. To ensure accountability, collectors and divisional commissioners would conduct special verification camps under direct supervision through Dec. These camps would audit past issuances and flag forged entries, with weekly progress reviews planned. According to senior officials, 14 districts had emerged as hotspots for such malpractices and would face intensified scrutiny. These are Amravati, Akola, Sillod, Sambhajinagar city, Latur, Anjangaon Surji, Achalpur, Pusad, Parbhani, Beed, Gevrai, Jalna, Ardhapur, and Parli. Warning of the wider risks, Bawankule stated the govt would adopt a zero-tolerance approach. “Forged birth and death certificates are being misused to grab govt benefits, encroach on land, and even threaten national security. We will not tolerate such rackets. Strict action will be taken against such beneficiaries,” he told TOI. Pune district officials confirmed that they would commence the intensive drive next month in compliance with the state’s directions.
