On last Friday I visited the Altinho–Panaji Archives office to check a birth certificate, because I had a copy of a birth certificate stamped and signed by the Archives, where I was told that the search proposal has to be referred from the Sub-Registrar, Bardez. The officer even said that he could not show the record directly to me. What is this? This is a funny procedure for issuing birth or death certificates. The government needs to change and expedite the procedure for public convenience. I do not know which documents are digitalised or computerised by the government. From one office to another, visits by the public are a waste of time and money.
So the government must avail birth or death certificates for public inspection and issue the certificates on the same day. It is learned that most records from 1971 onwards have been moved to the RBD Goa Portal. Physical copies are often no longer kept for immediate over-the-counter issuance in every local office, as the government now permits online birth and death certificates as valid documents for all official purposes.
There exists a divided jurisdiction of birth and death records (1914–1970 versus post-1971), which is confusing. The government should bring all records together in a combined office for public ease. Civil Registrar-cum-Sub Registrar offices only hold records from 1914 to 1970. They do not register new certificates or hold modern records. For any death or birth certificate after 1970, one must approach the local Village Panchayat or Municipal Council in the jurisdiction where the birth or death occurred. Some of these authorities issue certificates on the same day. This is the service of the digital world.
If a record is truly missing or was never registered, you must obtain a Non-Availability Certificate (NAC) from the relevant Municipal Council or Registrar. But books of records must be handed over to the public for inspection and for their satisfaction. In some cases, some birth or death certificates, along with “Teors” (original registers), have been reported as mutilated or damaged in certain sub-registrar offices, meaning the physical document is no longer available at that specific location. Therefore, allowance of public inspection is very important for public satisfaction.
For modern documents, you can apply and download them directly through Goa Online. This is also a question mark and is not possible for all citizens to go through online. At present, SIR is under process and voters are being asked to produce birth certificates. So is the procedure of issuing certificates for the people? Voters are the foundation of democracy. The government must think of it.
