Supreme Court asks Union Govt to create digital guidelines for birth and death certificates issuance.

Supreme Court Orders Notice to Union of India on Guidelines for Digital Issuance of Vital Documents

The Supreme Court recently issued notice to the Union of India on the question of formulating appropriate guidelines for the uniform issuance of birth and death certificates through digital means. This order was passed in a case where the court was considering the re-evaluation of the sentence of a convict in a corruption case due to his old age.

Court’s Order

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Aravind Kumar, ordered the issuance of notice to the Union of India to be served through the concerned Additional Solicitor General. The notice is regarding the formulation of appropriate guidelines for the uniform issuance of birth and death certificates through digital mode, aiming to avoid delay and inconvenience for applicants. The Union has been given four weeks to respond to the notice. The notice will be served directly by the Registry.

Background of the Case

The case in question involved a Village Administrative Officer in Melapungudi village, Sivagangai District, who was accused of demanding a bribe to issue a death certificate. When the complainant refused to pay the bribe, a complaint was lodged, leading to the petitioner’s arrest. The trial court convicted and sentenced the petitioner to 3 years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine. The petitioner appealed to the Madras High Court, which confirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence to one year of rigorous imprisonment for each offense.

Petitioner’s Appeal to the Supreme Court

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Madras High Court, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court, seeking a re-evaluation of the quantum of sentence. The Supreme Court has now issued a notice limited to the question of the quantum of sentence. As a result, the petitioner will be enlarged on interim bail, subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the trial court.

Case Details

• Case title: Prakasam v. State Through Inspector and Anti-Corruption Wing
• Citation: SLP (CRIMINAL) Diary No(s).20390/2023
• For petitioner: Adv. Mr. Naresh Kaushik, AOR Mr. Vardhman Kaushik, Adv. Mr. Dhruv Joshi, Adv. Mr. Manoj Joshi