Registrar General of India cautions hospitals over delays in reporting births and deaths

Registrar General of India Warns Hospitals Against Delays in Birth and Death Registrations

The Registrar General of India (RGI) has issued a strong advisory to hospitals and healthcare institutions across the country, cautioning them against delays in reporting births and deaths. The reminder comes amid growing concerns over non-compliance with the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which mandates that all such events must be registered within 21 days.  

Officials have noted that late or incomplete registrations create significant challenges, including legal complications for families and inaccuracies in national demographic data. Delays can also affect access to essential services such as inheritance claims, school admissions, and government welfare schemes. The RGI has warned that hospitals failing to adhere to the timeline could face penalties under Section 23 of the RBD Act, including fines and legal action.  

To improve efficiency, authorities are pushing for greater adoption of digital registration through the Caretaker Application for Births and Deaths (CABD) portal, which allows real-time reporting. Several states have already seen success with the system, reducing paperwork and speeding up the process.  

Public health experts emphasize that timely registration is crucial for effective policymaking, healthcare planning, and tracking mortality trends. The RGI has urged hospitals to treat birth and death reporting as a priority, ensuring that families do not suffer due to administrative delays.