High court pulls up GBA over death certificate issued to living person
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the failure of authorities to cancel a death certificate issued in the name of a living person, directing officials to rectify the error without delay.
Hearing a petition filed by D. Mehboob Basha, a resident of Chikkapete, the single-judge bench of Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum on Monday instructed the Birth and Death Registrar of the Greater Bengaluru Authority to submit proof of cancellation of the erroneous death certificate by the next hearing.
The court noted that despite earlier directions issued last year to withdraw the temporary death certificate issued by the Chikkapete zonal office, the authorities had failed to act, forcing the petitioner to approach the court again. The judge warned that failure to comply with the latest direction would invite action against the concerned officials.
“Why should penalties not be imposed for non-compliance of court orders?” the bench questioned the state government, highlighting the seriousness of administrative lapses in such sensitive matters.
The High Court also issued notices to several officials, including the Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Birth and Death Registrar under GBA, the administrative officer of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, the medical officer of Chikkapete, and the Joint Director of the statistical division of GBA.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that despite being alive and possessing valid identity documents such as PAN and Aadhaar, a death certificate had been wrongly issued in his name. The error had serious consequences, as his Aadhaar was linked to his ration card, preventing him from availing essential public distribution benefits.
The counsel further argued that repeated representations to authorities had yielded no result, compelling the petitioner to seek judicial intervention. The court observed that such negligence not only affects an individual’s legal identity but also raises concerns about systemic lapses in record management.
The matter has now been adjourned, with the court directing authorities to file a compliance report confirming cancellation of the certificate. The case underscores the urgent need for accountability and accuracy in maintaining vital records, as errors of this nature can severely impact citizens’ rights and access to government services.
