Aadhaar number mandatory for death certificates from 1 October

New Delhi: The government on Friday made Aadhaar number mandatory for issuance of death certificates. The rule comes into effect on 1 October.

A notification by the office of the registrar general, which functions under the home ministry, said an applicant is required to provide the Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID Number (EID) of the deceased and other details as sought in the application for a death certificate.

If the applicant is not aware of the Aadhaar number or EID of the deceased, he or she will be required to provide a certificate that the deceased person did not possess Aadhaar number to the best of his or her knowledge, the notification said.

The use of Aadhaar number for the applicants of death certificate will result in ensuring accuracy of the details provided by the relatives, dependents, acquaintances of the deceased, the government notification said.

“It will provide an effective method to prevent identity fraud,” the notification stated.

The directive would be applicable for the residents of all states except Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Meghalaya, for which a date would be notified separately.

“The Aadhaar number will be required for the purpose of establishing the identity of the deceased for the purpose of death registration with effect from 1 October,” stated the notification.

According to the notification, Aadhaar number for death certificates will also help in recording the identity of the deceased person. Further, it will obviate the need for producing multiple documents to prove the identity of the deceased person.

The registrar general has directed all states and union territories to ensure compliance by the registration authorities concerned and send a confirmation on or before 1 September.

The notification also warned that if any false declaration is given by the applicant, it will be treated “as an offence” according to the provisions of the Aadhaar Act and the Registration of Birth and Death Act.

The applicant’s Aadhaar number will also be collected along with the Aadhaar number of the spouse or parents of the deceased.

The office of the registrar general is the central authority to coordinate and unify the activities of chief registrar of birth and death in states and union territories.