Hyderabad: Issuing of death certificates has become a money-making racket for some GHMC staff. The minimum bribe taken is Rs 2,000 and goes up to Rs 5,000 in case of accidents, it is alleged. The actual amount is Rs 10.
The bribe money to secure the certificate is not paid directly to the GHMC staff but through a broker. In cases of accident-related deaths, one has to shell out money right from police officials to the GHMC staff. Though the minimum time is one month to issue the certificate, there are many cases where the corporation has taken more than six months.
Mr N. Jai Vittal, a resident of Lingojiguda, Saroornagar, lost his father N. Narsinga Rao in 2014. He submitted the relevant documents at the GHMC, LB Nagar office and received acknowledgement. “I was told at the counter that the GHMC would verify the details and that I may expect to collect the death certificate in about 15 days,” Mr Vittal said.
“The next day I also received an SMS from the GHMC that request for the death (no data) is accepted. For the next few weeks there was no response from the GHMC office though I followed it up. I finally received the certificate after three months, that too by bribing the junior staff. I fail to understand why a death cannot be properly registered and the relevant certificate given despite filing all required papers.”
Recounting his experience, Mr T. Venkat Raju of Attapur said, “My father died in a road accident in April at Attapur junction, he was hit by an RTC bus. A complaint was filed at the regional police station. I needed my father’s death certificate because all the documents needed to be submitted in court.”
“When I contacted the GHMC zonal office, the lower category staff gave me a contact number and asked me to come through him. The number was of a broker and he demanded Rs 3,500 to issue the certificate stating it is complicated since it is an accident case. I had no choice but to pay and get the certificate,” he said.
A couple of months back the GHMC commissioner had ordered an inquiry against two officers on allegations of having demanded a bribe for issuance of a death certificate. Statistical officer Vijay Kumar and AMOH Asra were asked to go on leave.
The charges were made by a woman, who alleged that the officers had demanded Rs 10,000 and delayed her husband’s death certificate. Though the delay was brought to the notice of the commissioner, despite his instructions, the death certificate was not issued.
