Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

Presented by Dr.Priyanka R. Phonde.

Definitions and interpretation

(a) birth means live-birth or still-birth; (b) death means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live-birth has taken place; (c) foetal death means absence of all evidence of life prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; (d) live-birth means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, and each product of such birth is considered live-born; (e) prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (f) State Government, in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof; (g) Still-birth means foetal death where a product of conception has attained at least the prescribed period of gestation.

Historical Background
The history of civil registration in India dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century. It started with the registration of deaths with a view to introducing sanitary reforms for control of pestilence and disease and not so much for studying population trends. Against this background of municipalities of acts and rules governing civil registrations in various parts of the country, a central legislation on the subject was considered absolutely necessary to bring about improvement in the system.

 The Registration of Births and Deaths Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabah in 1964, which was passes in the Budget Session of 1964 1965 but lapsed on the dissolution of the Parliament. The Bill was again passed by the Rajya Sabha on February 27, 1968. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on May 27, 1969 with certain amendments. These amendments were approved by the Rajya Sabha on May 16, 1969. The Bill was passed by both houses of Parliament received the assent of the President on May 31, 1969. It was notified in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section I on June 2, 1969.

 As per provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 registration of every birth and death is compulsory. The persons who are responsible, are to report the events of births and deaths to their nearest Registration Units within 21 days of occurrence of such events failing which late fees for delayed registration are charged.

This Act provides for

Uniform law across the country on the registration of births and deaths Compulsory reporting and registration of all births and deaths Implementation of the Act is the responsibility of the State Governments Rules framed by the state governments are based on a model set of rules provided by the Central Government (Registrar General, India).

This Act actually states ..

A Birth or Death has to be reported for registration, within 21 days of occurrence. Free copy of the certificate can be obtained at the time. Birth and Death registration is to be done at the place of occurrence. Any birth or death of which information is given to the registrars, after the expiry of twenty one days, but within thirty days of occurrence, shall be registered on payment of a late-fees. Any birth or death of which information is given to the Registrar, after thirty days of occurrence, but within one year shall be registered only with the written permission of the Officer prescribed in this behalf and on payment of late-fee. Any birth or death which has not been reported within one year of its occurrance, shall be registered only on orders of the First Class Judicial Magistrate and on payment of a late-fees. Entry of name of the child is a must, and can be done free of cost within 12 months from the date of registration. After 12 months, the name can be registered by paying a fee.However, a name cannot be registered after 15 years, from the date of registration of the birth. Name, once entered cannot be changed. It is the responsibility of the Medical Officer incharge of the hospital or Primary Health Centre, where the Delivery / death, has taken place, to report the Birth / Death, for registration. It is the responsibility of the Head of the Household / Nearest relative, to report the Births / Deaths that takes places in households.

The persons responsible for doing Births and Deaths Registration are as follows:
Area Birth and Death Registrars Village Panchayats Village Administrative Officers

Town Panchayats

Sanitary Inspectors / Executive Officers

Corporation / Municipal Areas

Sanitary Inspectors of the Division

Plantations / Estates

Estate Manger / Plantation Manager

Significance / Benefits of Registrations

On registration of birth/death a person gets Certificate of Birth/Death which is extremely useful as well as a valid legal proof for different purpose at different level. For instance a certificate of birth helps one in getting admission in School, inclusion of name in ration Card, getting citizenship certificate, registration as a Voter, getting employment marriage settlement etc. Again a Certificate of Death helps the concerned family in distribution of properties among the survivors, getting final payment from Banks, insurance claims, family pension etc. It benefits the nation and society also in planning and budget of the country. It facilitates calculation of birth rate, death rate, population growth rate etc. It also helps in assessing the health status of the nation/society and in formulation of policies.

Initiatives to improve registration

UNICEF works with the office of the Registrar General of India, the respective state governments and NGO partners to create an enabling environment so that every child is registered and gets a birth certificate. The focus of these partnerships have been to strengthen the civil registration system at national, state and district levels. The aim is to: Accelerate and improve the birth registration service delivery system. Facilitate demand creation amongst parents, guardians, community leaders and service providers for registration and issuance of birth certificates. Enhance compilation, analysis and use of the vital statistics collected through the civil registration system to inform planning and programming. Pilot specific interventions targeting the most vulnerable (i.e., children in hard to reach areas and hard to reach children). Create mass awareness through publicity campaigns Computerization in a number of urban local bodies have resulted in quicker and faster registration services.

Key Issues & Challenges

Low priority accorded to registration and general apathy Lack of inter-departmental co-ordination Inadequate budget allocation by the States for Civil Registration work Low levels of knowledge amongst registration functionaries about the processes and procedures of registration, reporting and management of data Lack of regular monitoring and supervision of civil registration work in the states

Penalties
(1) Any person who (a) fails without reasonable cause to give any information (b) gives or causes to be given, for the purpose of being inserted in any register of births and deaths , any information which he knows or believes to be false regarding any of the particulars required to be known and registered : or (c) refuses to write his name, description and place of abode or to put his thumb mark in the register as required by section 11, shall be punishable with fine. (2) Any Registrar or Sub-Registrar who neglects or refuses, without reasonable cause, to register any birth or deaths occurring in his jurisdiction ,shall be punishable with fine. (3) Any medical practitioner who neglects or refuses to issue a certificate and any person who neglects or refuses to deliver such certificates shall be punishable with fine.

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