Get non-availability certificate for unregistered birth, death before 1970

The Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine on Wednesday issued guidelines for non-availability certificate of any birth or death event not found registered.

“The Registrar of births and deaths should be informed. Officials must insist that applicants produce documentary evidence to prove the place of residence, place of birth etc. Also, a copy of any documents like ration card, school admission card, senior secondary mark sheet should be submitted as a proof,” said Dr TS Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH).

It has been stated that the Registrar should be authorised to make an enquiry regarding the genuineness of the reason for applying non-availability certificate.

In case the applicant is unable to produce any of the said evidence, the non-availability certificate should be issued only after a thorough police verification.

The department has received many requests for birth certificate especially from NRIs, for whom birth certificate is essential to get citizenship in any country they wish to reside in.

It has been clarified by the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, that if no evidence is available to support that birth/ death, it will be better to issue applicants a certificate of non-mandatory registration instead of registering that event.

Dr Selvavinayagam stated, “If no evidence is available or if applicant is unable to produce any in support of birth and police verification is not possible, the issuing authority in the concerned rural and urban area can submit the matter with the respective district revenue officer and district registrar of births and deaths.”

After analysing the details, along with a detailed report the district registrar of births receives in his office, a direction will be issued by the Chief Registrar of births and deaths.

The non-mandatory registration certificate can be requested for the births before April 1, 1970 only.