Papers destroyed? No worries, Sub Registrar will reconstruct

Move is expected to save time, energy & money of citizens in Salcete

The Goan Network | AUGUST 10, 2018, 02:13 AM IST



HOW TO GO ABOUT
>> Aggrieved citizens have to make an application to the Sub registrar, submitting all details, including details of the spoiled register
>> Once the application is submitted to the office of the Sub Registrar, the same will be forwarded to the office of the District Registrar
>> The District Registrar will hold a summary inquiry into the application before forwarding it to the State Registrar for approval
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MARGAO: There’s good news in store for citizens whose birth and death documents are not traceable at the office of the Salcete Sub Registrar. The next time you find your birth record damaged, mutilated and destroyed in the Sub Registrar’s office, you need not undergo the ordeal of knocking the doors of the Court for an order to register the birth afresh. The Sub Registrar offices will reconstruct a birth or death record or register it based on the original documents issued by the offices in the past.
In fact, around 13 years after the Goa Reconstruction of Registers and Records Act was enacted in 2005, the government had brought the provisions of the Act into force by empowering the district Registrars and the Chief Registrar to reconstruct the records and registers.
The office of the Salcete Sub Registrar, Domnick Pereira has started issuing application forms for reconstruction of records and registers from Thursday, which is expected to save much time, energy and money of citizens, whose records stand destroyed in the Sub Registrar offices.
Says State Registrar, Ashutosh Apte: “The Sub Registrars were following the tedious process of re- registration of births after making the applicants move the courts to obtain an order for fresh registration of birth or death records. The reconstruction of documents will do away with this process and applicants who have his or her original records can apply for reconstruction of the documents with the respective Sub Registrars.”
Information revealed that the Goa Reconstruction of Registers and Records Act was enacted in 2005. The Act was brought into force immediate and it took three long years for the government to frame the rules, which were put in place in 2008.
What’s interesting is that, despite the enactment of the Goa Reconstruction of Registers and Records Act in 2005 and the rules framed three years later in 2008, hapless citizens were directed by the taluka Sub Registrars to approach the courts and seek an order for fresh registration of birth or death records even they were equipped with the original documents issued by the same office.
As per the procedure laid down by the Chief Registrar for reconstruction of records, aggrieved citizens are required to make an application to the Sub registrar, submitting all details, including details of the spoilt register such as registration, number and date of registration and submission of documents such as the true copies.
Once the applications for reconstruction of documents is submitted to the office of the Sub Registrar, the same is required to be forwarded to the office of the district Registrar, who will hold a summary inquiry into the application before forwarding the application to the State Registrar for approval.
A citizen of Margao Xavier Fernandes, who was made to run from pillar to post by the Salcete Sub Registrar's office though he had all the original documents in his possession, said the reconstruction of documents will help bring huge relief to the citizens of Salcete. He, however, cautioned that the State Registrar should ensure that the process to reconstruct documents is capped in a time bound manner.
“I am a victim of damaged records in the office of Salcete Sub Registrar. Even though I had the original birth certificate with me, the office had forced met to approach the court for an order to register my birth afresh. The reconstruction of records will bring relief to the citizens, but the process ought to be hassle-free and prompt,” Xavier added.   

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