Jind man offers birth certificates for Rs 2,500, booked

JIND: Even as many in India are vociferously declaring ‘Hum Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge’, some enterprising man in Jind has gone to town with his offer: birth certificates for Rs 2,500. The posters that are found all over Jind have created quite a buzz here and security agencies have lodged a complaint with the police regarding the same. Following this, Jind police have booked an unknown miscreant for cheating.
Station house officer of Jind city police station Surender Singh said, “The accused obviously is seeking to cash in on the panic over National Register of Citizenship. We are investigating the matter. No arrests so far.”
“Deputy civil surgeon, Jind hospital, Pale Ram Kataria, said the matter had come to the notice of health department as well. “I even called the number given in the poster and was told that I should go to Delhi to get the certificate. This is illegal. According to rule, one can get birth certificates free of cost within 21 days of birth. Between 21 and 28 days, registrars, such as primary health doctors, can issue the certificate. District registrar (civil surgeon) is authorised to issue for a year and after that deputy commissioner is the final authority who can issue birth certificates after a through investigation by revenue officers. This will cost Rs 50,” he added.
The legally issued birth certificates will need nine to 10 documents, including ration card, school record and hospital record of birth, deputy civil surgeon said.