Births and deaths : Legal safeguards must not become barriers
The Tribune Editorial : While the government’s objective of preventing fraudulent registrations is legitimate, the amendment raises important questions about accessibility and inclusivity
Updated At : 07:09 AM Aug 05, 2026 IST
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THE passage of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill by Parliament is a major step to strengthen India’s civil registration system. The legislation introduces stricter norms for delayed registration by requiring an order from a judicial magistrate (first class) for births or deaths reported more than two years after the event, replacing the current executive approval mechanism for such cases. While the government’s objective of preventing fraudulent registrations is legitimate, the amendment raises important questions about accessibility and inclusivity.
