Elected representatives in West Bengal panchayat, civic bodies prohibited from issuing birth, death certificates

Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said only designated government officials would be authorized to issue birth and death certificates. Image used for representation. | Photo credit: iStockphotos/Getty Images

Citing widespread irregularities in the issuance of birth and death certificates in West Bengal under the previous regime, state chief secretary Manoj Agarwal on Thursday (July 23, 2026) said that elected representatives in panchayats and municipalities will no longer be able to issue these documents.

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On the same day, police raids were conducted at several local authorities across the state, including Kolkata, as part of an investigation into such irregularities. Most of the civic bodies in the state are still administered by representatives of the Trinamool Congress.

Fake certificates

Only designated government officials would be authorized to issue birth and death certificates, Mr. Agarwal said, removing the power from all elected public representatives. “Many errors and irregularities were found during the SIR. The police also received many complaints. Fake birth certificates were found at many places,” the chief secretary said, adding that the complaints were received after the State Assembly elections held earlier this year.

Also read | How People Find Parents’ Birth Certificates: Mamata

Mr. Agarwal, who served as the state’s chief electoral officer during the elections, said that if someone knowingly and “deliberately commits fraud, he will not be spared”.

Police raid

On Thursday (July 23), police teams conducted searches of municipalities and companies in several districts of the state as part of an investigation into irregularities in the issuance of birth and death certificates. Searches were conducted in Kolkata, Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts.

Police teams also conducted searches at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters and its Municipal Offices 1, 2 and 10, where officials examined birth and death registers and scrutinized computer records. Police also collected documents from several crematoria as part of the investigation.

Drive against illegal migrants

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power, the West Bengal government has stepped up its efforts to identify Bangladeshi nationals illegally staying in the state.

The Chief Secretary said the government will re-verify all certificates registered since 1997. Based on this exercise, a common database will be created which will be linked to a central portal, he said.

Financial powers must also be limited

The West Bengal government is also in the process of introducing legislation that would limit the financial powers of elected public representatives in panchayats and municipalities.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh told the State Assembly earlier this week that the bill would be introduced in the next few days. Under the proposed changes, panchayat pradhans will cease to be the “signatory authority” for official files and financial documents. Instead, responsibility will rest with designated government officials, a move the minister said was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted delivery of public services and greater accountability.

The development comes amid allegations that a large number of panchayat functionaries have remained absent from their offices since the change of government in the state.

Published – 23 Jul 2026 21:26 IST