Administrator launches verification drive amid forged signature, seal misuse allegations
MARGAO
As the Margao Municipal Council is rocked by complaint of forgery of the signature of the Chief Officer to create a forged non-availability certificate for delayed registration of the birth by a Municipal sweeper, Margao Municipal Administrator Srinet Kothwale has ordered a special verification drive and audit of records pertaining to non-availability of birth certificates.
The Administrator’s exercise assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports of previous cases of registration of birth certificates with forged signature.
The Administrator has directed the Chief Officer to cover the relevant certificate-issuance register; search records; applications and fee receipts; office copies; inward and outward registers; seal-custody records; and certificates issued during the period from January 01, 2025 to date.
The verification shall ascertain whether the disputed certificate is reflected in the official register; whether any application, search request or fee receipt exists in relation to it; whether the official seal appearing on the disputed certificate is genuine; how and by whom the seal was accessed or used; whether any lapse occurred in the custody of official stationery, seals or records; and whether any similar certificates were issued without authority.
The Administrator further stated that the scope of verification may be expanded to earlier periods if any irregularity is detected.
Kothwale has told the Chief Officer to submit a preliminary report within 15 days.
Prima facie observations after an inquiry
The MMC inquiry has revealed that the municipal sweeper had allegedly forged the signature of the current Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council, to prepare and issue a purported non-availability certificate without lawful authority; apparent unauthorised use of, or access to, the official seal of the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Margao Municipal Council; use of the disputed certificate as a genuine document before a public authority in support of an application for delayed registration of birth; possible misuse by a municipal employee of his access to the Council office, its records, official stationery, seal and internal procedures; acting as a private agent or attorney-holder in a matter connected with official municipal functions while serving as an employee of the Council; and conduct prima facie unbecoming of a municipal employee and potentially amounting to serious misconduct under the applicable service and conduct rules, including Rule 3 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
The prima facie observed state that the issue has the potential to seriously impair public confidence in certificates issued by the Council. Although the application before the Deputy Collector was returned as not maintainable, the disputed certificate remains in existence and may be relied upon or misused before another authority unless immediate preventive steps are taken.
Employee’s confession letter admits forgery
The municipal sweeper attached to the Technical Section of the Margao Municipal Council has made a written confession letter dated 09/06/2026 on his own volition, stating that he has admitted that he forged the signature of the Chief Officer and issued a non-availability certificate dated 10/12/2025 in connection with the proposed delayed registration of the birth of a girl, reportedly born on July 23, 2025.
MMC officials said the sweeper had acted as the private agent and attorney-holder of the child’s father in relation to the delayed-birth-registration matter. A Power of Attorney was executed in his favour for representing the child’s father before the concerned authority and for completing the related formalities.
The alleged forged non-availability certificate in Form No. 10 dated 10/12/2025 purports to have been issued in the name of the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Margao Municipal Council. The document bears a signature purporting to be that of the issuing authority i.e. of the current Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council and also bears an official seal. The certificate was relied upon as a material document in support of an application submitted before the office of the Deputy Collector, South Goa, for delayed registration of the birth.
The application was later inwarded in the office of the Deputy Collector & SDO-I, Salcete, Goa under File/Inward No. 4566 dated 29/05/2026. Upon examination, the Deputy Collector returned the application on the ground that the same was not maintainable before his office. The application did not proceed further before the said authority. It is not known whether the same has been inwarded before any other authority.
FIR against employee over forged certificate
MARGAO: The Margao police have registered a FIR against the Margao Municipal sweeper employed in the Births & Deaths Cell of the Administrative section, of the Council.
Acting on a complaint lodged by Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar, the Margao police have registered the FIR under Section 336(2), 336(3), and 340(2) BNS 2023.
In his complaint, the Chief Officer stated that the sweeper allegedly prepared a non-availability certificate by forging his signature and affixing/using official stamps of the Margao Municipal Council without authority, for the purpose of processing a delayed birth registration case.
