Fake birth certificate racket busted in Ambedkar Nagar

21 Out of 28 Docus Found Forged, Probe Ordered

Lucknow: Health department officials in Ambedkar Nagar have found that 21 out of 28 birth certificates submitted for verification by schools were fake, despite being purportedly issued by govt hospitals and health centres.

Chief medical officer Dr Sanjay Kumar Shaival has taken serious note of the findings and has directed all medical superintendents concerned to lodge FIRs in this connection.

The department has also initiated an internal probe to identify the culprits and check the involvement of staff.

The irregularities came to light after schools, following the start of the new academic session in April, sought verification of birth certificates submitted by parents during admissions. The CMO office coordinated with community health centres (CHCs) and the district hospital to verify the authenticity of 28 such certificates.

The results revealed that only seven certificates were genuine.

Officials said the fake certificates were claimed to be issued by govt facilities, including CHCs and the district hospital. In one instance, a certificate allegedly issued from Akbarpur CHC bore the signature of a superintendent who was transferred years before the date of issuance, clearly indicating fabrication.

Probe showed that out of 17 certificates linked to Akbarpur CHC, only three were genuine while 14 were fake. Similarly, six out of seven certificates from Jalalpur CHC were found to be forged.

Officials suspect that, similar to cases reported in districts like Rae Bareli, a larger racket may be operating in Ambedkar Nagar as well. Preliminary findings indicate possible involvement of departmental staff.

In a recent case at Jahangirganj CHC, the role of an ANM and a computer operator came under scrutiny for allegedly issuing fake certificates, with reports suggesting that nearly 1,000 such documents may have been generated fraudulently. An FIR has been registered.

CMO Dr Shaival said strict action would be taken against those found guilty. “All officers concerned have been instructed to file FIRs and ensure strict monitoring of the birth certificate issuance process to prevent misuse,” he said.

The health department has also tightened oversight mechanisms, directing officials to ensure proper documentation, verification and accountability at every level.

Superintendent of police, Ambedkar Nagar, Prachi Singh said that an FIR would be lodged soon and the probe was being conducted by a deputy SP-rank officer.