Mumbai Mayor Initiates Crackdown on Suspicious Birth Registrations Following FIR
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has declared a firm stance against what she describes as "suspicious" birth registrations, following the filing of an FIR against two civic health officials. The mayor emphasized on Friday that the health department bears the critical responsibility of thoroughly verifying parents' documents before issuing any birth certificates. She asserted that lapses in this process have effectively "legalised illegal stays" within the city.
Allegations of Widespread Fraud and Immigration Concerns
Tawde highlighted a specific case involving 237 alleged fake birth certificates issued by the civic health department, with 75 already traced. She claimed that if proper document checks had been conducted, it would have been evident that the parents were Bangladeshis residing illegally in Mumbai, potentially allowing for their immediate deportation. "By issuing fake birth certificates, the civic administration ended up legalising their stay, and even enabled access to voting rights and civic facilities," she stated, underscoring the broader implications of such oversights.
The mayor expressed concern that the scale of the problem might be far more extensive than currently known. "We believe there could be up to 10,000 such cases. Before my term ends, I want every one of them traced and removed from the city," she added, signaling a determined effort to address the issue comprehensively.
Humanitarian Considerations vs. Regulatory Enforcement
Addressing the delicate balance between humanitarian needs and legal compliance, Tawde clarified that while delivery should never be denied to a woman in labour, even without documents, the issuance of a birth certificate must adhere to strict verification standards. "Delivery should not be denied. But if documents are not in order, a birth certificate should not be issued," she explained, outlining a policy that prioritizes immediate medical care while maintaining regulatory integrity.
FIR Details and Official Meetings
The FIR, lodged by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), targets two suspended health department officials accused of misusing their official positions in birth registrations. According to the FIR, these officials approved records of home births without proper examination of documents and registered nine births at a private nursing home without conducting mandatory inspections. This action followed meetings led by Tawde, including one on February 13 with former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya and civic health officials, and another on February 17, which culminated in the FIR filing.
Opposition Criticism and Counterarguments
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized the mayor's approach, accusing her of pushing the civic administration into an inappropriate policing role. They argue that verifying the authenticity of parents' documents falls outside the purview of civic officials' duties. Congress corporator Tulip Miranda provided an example: "When a delivery takes place in a moving train, a birth certificate is issued of the place where the birth took place. On what basis are officials expected to deny these birth certificates even though the child only gets a domicile of its parents? We cannot expect civic staff to go and check parents' records too."
Miranda further noted that birth details are required to be sent to the nearest civic office within 21 days of birth, suggesting that the current system may not be equipped for extensive background checks.
Mayor's Firm Stance on Immigration and Future Plans
In response to the criticism, Tawde reiterated her commitment to addressing illegal immigration, linking it to broader civic issues such as hawkers illegally occupying footpaths. "There's absolutely no question of issuing birth certificates to illegal immigrants in our city. I will be taking a review on this issue once again with the health department very soon. While we cannot deny a woman in labour pain the right to give birth, but this cannot be justified to give them birth certificates at a time when they don't belong to our country," she asserted.
The mayor's statements reflect a ongoing debate in Mumbai over the intersection of civic administration, immigration control, and humanitarian concerns, with potential implications for thousands of residents and the city's governance framework.
