No record of death certificate, labourer at wit’s end

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, September 24

A labourer, Krishan Singh, of Dhandoli Khurd has been shuttling between various offices for over three months to get attested copies of his father’s death certificate. Seva Kendra, Dirba, staff say the death of his father Teja Singh hasn’t been registered in records so he should reapply, but Krishan contends that the certificate he possesses was issued by the Health Department on May 30 and “if it is not there in records, it’s not my fault”.

The Dirba Seva Kendra has issued him anothercertificate declaring thatTeja Singh’s death hasn’t been registered.

A harried Krishan says, “I am a labourer and I can’t afford to leave my work daily. I am the only earning hand in my family. If my father’s death hasn’t been registered, how did the authorities concerned issued the death certificate?”

His father Teja Singh served in the state’s Public Works Department (Building and Roads) and retired around 25 years ago. He died on May 12 after a long illness following which the multipurpose health worker in his village registered the death on May 22 and finally the certificate was issued on May 30.

“Our family needs money urgently. There is a little money in my father’s bank account. To withdraw the same, we need attested copies of his death certificate. I request the higher-ups to inquire the matter,” he rues.

When contacted, Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Raj Kumar, who is the district registrar of death and birth, said, “It’s a serious matter. Employees can’t deny the attestation of certificate. I will look into the matter and take an appropriate action after checking our record.”