Patna: In a significant administrative reform, the Bihar government has authorised village Mukhiya and Sarpanch to issue death certificates, streamlining the process in rural areas. This move comes as part of the ongoing Revenue Maha Abhiyan, aimed at resolving longstanding documentation challenges.
Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Singh, in a directive to all district magistrates, outlined changes following consultations with Panchayat representatives at a meeting held on August 10 at the Revenue Survey Training Institute in Patna. The new system simplifies death certification, particularly in cases where individuals, often raiyats or jamabandidars, have been deceased for years but lack formal death certificates.
Under the revised guidelines, if a successor provides a self-declaration on plain paper, authenticated by the Mukhiya or Sarpanch’s signature, it will be accepted as valid proof. Additionally, the mention of ‘dead’ alongside a member’s name in the genealogical records will also serve as acceptable evidence.
Previously, the authority to issue birth and death certificates rested with the Block Development Officers (BDOs) and executive officers of municipal bodies, who have now been formally reinstated with Executive Magistrate powers for certificates pending beyond one year. This authority was earlier with sub-divisional officers (SDMs), but due to their electoral duties during assembly elections, applications faced delays.
In recent weeks, approximately 10,000 applications for birth and death certificates were reported pending in SDM offices across Bihar. To address the backlog, the Directorate of Economics and Statistics introduced new procedures on July 9. Under this system, applications over one year old require SDM recommendations, while those between 30 days and one year are processed with Block Statistical Officer endorsement. For rural areas, applications within one month of the event are submitted through the Panchayat Secretary, and after one year, the BDO or urban executive officers handle certification.
