The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that Aadhaar number will be required for the purpose of establishing the identity of the deceased for the purpose of Death registration with effect from October, 1, 2017. The government believes the move will result in ensuring accuracy of the details provided by the relatives or acquaintances of the deceased and will also prove effective in preventing identity fraud. According to the notification issued by the Registrar General India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, use of Aadhaar will also obviate the need for producing multiple documents to prove the identity of the deceased person.
The RGI has further directed concerned Department in the respective states and Union Territories for registration of birth and death to ensure compliance by concerned registration authorities and a confirmation to this effect by on or before September 1, 2017.
The provisions shall come into effect immediately for residents of all states except J&K, Assam & Meghalaya for which a date will be notified separately, the notification read.
As per the directives of the RGI, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3(3) of the Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1969, an applicant applying for death certificate is required to provide Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID Number (EID) of the deceased and other details as sought in the application for death certificate for the purpose of establishing the identity of the deceased.
However, there is room for those without the Aadhaar number.
“An applicant not aware of the Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID of the deceased will be required to provide a certificate that the deceased person does not possess Aadhaar number to the best of his/her knowledge and it should be duly informed and also prescribed that any false declaration given by the applicant in this regard will be treated as an offence as per the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and also Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1969,” a government release read.
The Aadhaar number of the applicant shall also be collected along with the Aadhaar number of the spouse or parents.
The RGI notification follows provisions of the Aadhaar Act and Regulations. Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act 2016 permits the use of Aadhaar number for establishing the identity of an individual for any purpose pursuant to any law or any contract to this effect.
The office of the RGI is the central authority to coordinate and unify the activities of Chief Registrar of birth and deaths of states in respect of registration of births and deaths. The certificate of birth and death are issued by the registering authority notified by the state governments under section 12 and 17 of the RBD Act, 1969.
