Even as the Congress denounced the Maharashtra government’s move to cancel all birth and death certificates issued merely on the strength of an Aadhaar card, the government Saturday made it clear that other document proofs carrying personal details are necessary for procuring birth and death certificates.
”Even if the citizen seeking birth and death certificates submits an Aadhaar card to the government office, they will have to tag along copies of school leaving certificate, electricity bill or ration card, which carry their personal details like name, address, age and the like,” said officials in the Revenue Department Saturday.
On Thursday, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, in a significant step to curb the menace of fraudulent birth and death certificates being used for illegal purposes, ordered the immediate cancellation of all suspicious certificates issued merely on the strength of an Aadhaar card and directed authorities to lodge police complaints without delay. The minister also announced a special investigation drive in 14 locations, including Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and Latur.
The Revenue Department issued a comprehensive 16-point verification guideline to all tehsildars, sub-divisional officers, district collectors and divisional commissioners. The circular, issued following a high-level meeting chaired by the additional chief secretaries of the Home and Revenue Departments, stated that Aadhaar cards cannot be accepted as standalone proof of date of birth or place of birth, in line with Central Government guidelines.
Reacting to the minister’s directive, Maharashtra Congress Atul Londhe said, ”This means that the Aadhaar card’s legal sanctity has ended. The minister should now clarify which identity proof will remain a concrete proof. The minister should himself tell the people which is the proof that every citizen, farm labourers, the poor, people without homes, have and will be acceptable to the government.”
AAP spokesperson Mukund Kirdat said, ”The BJP government has been promoting and laying emphasis on Aadhaar cards and their importance since coming to power. And now the minister is trying to reduce the significance of Aadhaar. This is going to create problems, especially in rural areas.”
Kirdat said,” If the government feels that it was fraudulently procured, then it is a problem of their governance. They have to improve their system to ensure that Aadhaar cards are issued in a foolproof manner and serve as solid proof, reducing reliance on other documentary proof.
Among the directives issued by Minister Bawankule are:
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• All birth/death registration orders issued by Nayab Tehsildars after the amendment of August 11, 2023, are to be withdrawn and cancelled forthwith.
• Certificates issued taking only the Aadhaar card as proof are treated as defective and cancelled.
• Discrepancy between application details and Aadhaar date of birth will invite immediate FIR against the applicant.
• Beneficiaries who fail to surrender original bogus certificates or cannot be traced will be declared ‘absconding’, and FIRs will be registered against them.
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• District collectors and divisional commissioners conduct special verification camps under their direct supervision.
As many as 14 districts identified as ‘hotspots’ for such malpractices have been put under strict scrutiny. They are Amravati, Akola, Sillod, Sambhajinagar (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) city, Latur, Anjangaon Surji, Achalpur, Pusad, Parbhani, Beed, Gevrai, Jalna, Ardhapur and Parli.
“Forged birth and death certificates are being misused to grab government benefits, encroach on land and even threaten national security. We will not tolerate such racketeering. Strict action will be taken against such beneficiaries,” Bawankule said in a press release issued Thursday.
”Birth certificates obtained solely based on Aadhaar card will be cancelled. There will be a direct police complaint if a discrepancy is found in the date of birth. Beneficiaries who obtained fake certificates and have absconded will be declared ‘fugitives’,” he said.
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
"Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
"BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
"Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
"NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
"PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
"93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
"As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
"Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
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