Mumbai: BMC Halts Birth and Death Certificate Corrections, Thousands of Citizens Left Waiting
Mumbai, 30th July 2026: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allegedly stopped processing corrections to birth and death certificates without issuing any official notification or legal order, leaving thousands of applications pending across ward offices and causing hardship to citizens.
According to reports, more than 3,000 applications for corrections in names, dates of birth and other details are awaiting clearance. The delay has affected students seeking admission to schools and colleges, passport applicants, senior citizens and beneficiaries of various government schemes.
In response, Advocate Faiyaz Sheikh, a lawyer at the Bombay High Court, has served a legal notice to the Registrar General of India, the Maharashtra Government, the BMC Commissioner, and former MP Kirit Somaiya, alleging that the civic body’s action is arbitrary and unconstitutional.
The legal notice argues that suspending the correction process without any statutory notification or alternative mechanism violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution of India.
The notice demands that:
– Ward-level powers to process certificate corrections be restored immediately.
– A fast-track mechanism be established within 15 days to dispose of the more than 3,000 pending applications.
– Citizens should not be forced to make repeated visits to ward offices due to administrative delays.
Advocate Sheikh has warned that if the BMC fails to take corrective action within the stipulated 15-day period, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) will be filed before the Bombay High Court, and, if necessary, the matter may be pursued before the Supreme Court of India. The notice also seeks accountability from officials responsible for the delay and compensation for affected citizens.
The BMC has not yet issued an official response regarding the allegations or the reported suspension of the certificate correction process.
