CIC orders probe into fake certificates

AZAD SAID IT WAS APPALLING THAT SUCH A CRIME WAS BEING COMMITTED IN AN UNBRIDLED MANNER, IN DELHI, WHERE MAX LEGAL SAFEGUARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO

BE IN PLACE

NEWDELHI: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered an inquiry into the “gross irregularities” in issuing birth certificates, some of which were found to be fake, by North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The probe order from CIC came after the commission came across 49 certificates that were forged.

Information commissioner Yashovardhan Azad noted in his order that practices and procedures devoid of transparency end up being a “breeding ground” for malpractices of fraudulence, manipulation and corruption.

“Upon perusal of the aforementioned facts and submissions of the case, gross irregularities have surfaced in this case, showcasing over 49 fake birth certificates,” he said.

Azad added that it was appalling that such a heinous crime was being committed in an unbridled manner, right in the capital where maximum legal checks and safeguards are expected to be in place for smooth governance and providing best of civic amenities to the citizens.

The commissioner, a former IPS officer, found that the fake birth certificates were issued by the north body merely on the basis of hard copies of certain orders purportedly issued by the SDM’s office.

For all the 49 fake birth certificates issued, there was no corresponding soft copy of the same SDM orders available online on the Delhi government website.

“As is evident, procedures were twisted and rules/policies and laws violated for creating fabricated documents. These forged documents were created without any cross linking or cross referencing,” he said.