A family in Khatamari village under Chaudhurihat Gram Panchayat in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district has been struggling to obtain a birth certificate for their newborn daughter, allegedly because the father’s name is missing from the electoral roll.
Abdul Habib, the child’s father, said the omission has also prevented him from obtaining a residential certificate, which the family claims is required to apply for the birth certificate. Despite repeated visits to administrative offices and approaches to local representatives, he said the matter remains unresolved.
According to the family, Habib’s wife, Amina Khatun, was admitted to Dinhata Sub-Divisional Hospital on September 8, where she gave birth to a daughter. However, more than two months after the birth, the family had not received the child’s birth certificate as of November 13.
Father Says Name Missing From Electoral Roll
Habib said the problem began when he approached the gram panchayat to obtain a residential certificate. He alleged that officials were unwilling to issue the document because his name had been omitted from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
He maintained that his wife’s name appears on the electoral roll and that the family has several documents to establish their identities and family details. These include his own birth certificate, his wife’s birth certificate and records showing his father’s name in the 2002 electoral roll.
“I have approached the administration several times, but nothing has been resolved. I am facing considerable difficulties because of this,” Habib said.
He questioned why the absence of his name from the electoral roll should prevent him from obtaining a birth certificate for his daughter, particularly when he has other documents supporting his identity.
Official Says Applications Must Follow Government Rules
An administrative official denied that authorities were arbitrarily refusing to issue certificates. The official said applicants could obtain the required documents by submitting applications along with the necessary paperwork.
However, the official maintained that Habib’s application could not be accepted because his name did not appear on the electoral roll.
“We cannot act outside the established government rules,” the official said.
