A Faridabad resident faced a distressing bureaucratic blunder after applying for his late father’s death certificate in March 2025, only to be mistakenly issued a birth certificate for a child by the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad’s NIT Zone-II office.
The Haryana Right to Service Commission (RTS), following a formal complaint, found the error stemmed from administrative negligence by the handling clerk.
Taking decisive action, the Commission fined the official ₹3,000 and directed an additional ₹3,000 be paid to the applicant as compensation ordering these amounts deducted directly from the clerk’s July salary.
The RTS Commission has set August 11, 2025, as the compliance deadline for the Municipal Commissioner and asked the applicant to share his bank details to facilitate the compensation.
“Unacceptable Error”: Commission Acts to Restore Public Trust
According to the official findings, the applicant, grieving his father’s loss, visited the municipal office just three days after the death with all proper documentation yet received a birth certificate in lieu of the requested death certificate.
The error went unaddressed until the applicant raised the issue through the Haryana grievance redressal system in May.
“Such a mix-up, especially concerning sensitive matters like a death certificate, is unacceptable and reflects poorly on frontline service delivery,” said RTS Commission Chairperson and former IAS officer TC Gupta in a public statement.
Not only did the processing clerk fail in due diligence, but both district and state grievance officers also reportedly did not handle the complaint with suitable seriousness. The Commission has now mandated enhanced oversight for future complaints and issued a stern warning to all involved officials.
Broader Pattern of Lapses Prompts Statewide Reforms
This incident is part of a broader effort by Haryana authorities to tighten oversight and accountability in public service delivery.
In a parallel case earlier this month, the same Commission fined a tehsildar-cum-marriage registrar in Hansi and ordered him to pay a symbolic ₹5,000 compensation to a couple after a 24-day delay in issuance of their marriage certificate.
Built into the Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014, are strict timelines and service standards for 422 citizen services; many offices are now monitored via digitised dashboards.
The Commission has also called for additional sensitisation workshops and upskilling for administrative staff, following a recent increase in citizen complaints regarding errors and delays in documentation.
“All government officials must stay accountable,” Commissioner Gupta reiterated, “as every lapse directly impacts ordinary families who trust our system in their moments of need.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This case starkly illustrates the very real impact procedural errors can have during people’s most vulnerable times, turning grief or celebration into bureaucratic frustration. The Haryana RTS Commission’s prompt action is commendable, but the recurrence of such mistakes points to a deeper need for cultural and procedural reform a shift where every official understands their duty as a guardian of citizen dignity.
We support strengthened training, transparent tracking, and compassionate engagement at all levels. As Haryana implements these changes, what steps do you feel are vital to prevent such distressing incidents, and how can citizens and state agencies collaborate to create a more empathetic and effective public service?
