Birth, death certificates in CURE region now issued via central CRS portal

The issuance of birth and death certificates across the Core Urban Region (CURE) — covering Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal–Malkajgiri, and Sangareddy districts — has moved to the centralised Civil Registration System (CRS) portal effective September 1. The CRS is operated by the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordination with state governments.

This transition removes Mee Seva centres from the certificate-issuance process. Residents must now apply directly on the CRS portal by uploading the required documents online. Officials say the new system is more transparent and less prone to errors. Each certificate issued through the portal will carry a 16-digit unique identification number and a QR code, making it valid nationwide.

The move follows a scam detected over three years ago involving the issuance of fraudulent birth and death certificates in several circles of the then Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), allegedly with the involvement of Mee Seva operators.

Under the earlier system, applications were submitted via Mee Seva centres or Citizen Service Centres at GHMC circle offices, and processed after verification. Hospitals were required to upload details of every birth and death. For home births and deaths, an enquiry by the Assistant Medical Officer of Health preceded proceedings by Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs) for certificate grant.

Now, hospitals must register every birth and death directly on the CRS portal, according to GHMC Chief Medical Officer of Health Amar Singh. The procedure for home births and deaths remains largely unchanged, except that RDO proceedings are no longer required. Singh acknowledged some initial hiccups in the transition, which are being addressed.

Registration of births and deaths reported within 30 days, along with certificate issuance, is free. Delays up to one year require district registrar permission and a prescribed penalty. Delays of one to two years need District Collector approval and a late fee. Registrations delayed beyond two years will require an order from a First Class Judicial Magistrate.

In Hyderabad district, the GHMC Commissioner continues as Registrar, with jurisdiction over 25 circles and the Cantonment. In the other three districts, the respective District Medical and Health Officers serve as registrars. The new system also limits corrections to certificates — beneficiaries may make changes only twice. Authorities have trained officials across all 60 circles under the three corporations and issued user IDs to medical officers to facilitate the transition.