Suspended BMC Medical Officer Claims Probe Findings Are False and Premature
A suspended Medical Officer of Health (MOH) from Mumbai has formally challenged the action taken against him over alleged irregularities in the issuance and correction of birth certificates, claiming that the allegations are baseless and that the suspension was imposed even before the completion of the inquiry.
The development marks the first known instance in the ongoing investigation where a suspended civic medical officer has officially contested the probe findings before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration.
Doctor Writes to BMC Seeking Revocation of Suspension
In a letter addressed to Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin Sharma, the officer stated that he had served in multiple civic wards and had also worked as a sub-registrar for birth and death registrations. He denied any involvement in issuing illegal birth or death certificates or extending unlawful assistance in any case.
The doctor also questioned the basis of the internal investigation that reportedly identified unauthorised corrections in birth and death records.
Officer Questions Rules Around SAP System Corrections
According to the suspended MOH, there is no specific BMC directive prohibiting corrections in the SAP system used for civic record management. The internal report had alleged that several MOHs made changes in both the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal and the older SAP platform, allegedly violating guidelines issued by the Registrar General of India.
The probe reportedly found that more than 87,000 corrections were made through the SAP system between 2024 and 2026. Of these, around 30,507 corrections were recorded in 2024, while over 49,000 were carried out in 2025.
BMC Suspends Officials, Launches Wider Investigation
Following the findings, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide approved a reform plan that led to the suspension of Medical Health Officers in the L ward (Kurla) and E ward (Byculla).
Earlier, the civic body had also suspended two MHOs and two birth registration clerks in the M/East ward while cancelling 237 certificates on the CRS portal.
Officials said an independent inquiry has now been initiated to examine alleged violations in the L ward. The reform plan further recommends a vigilance department probe into birth and death registration cases across all 24 civic wards in Mumbai.
“MOHs Are Being Unfairly Targeted,” Says Suspended Doctor
The suspended officer claimed that Medical Officers of Health are being unfairly blamed for systemic issues related to citizenship verification.
He argued that doctors working in government and civic hospitals treat all patients without discrimination and that hospitals are not authorised to verify whether parents are Indian citizens or foreign nationals.
According to the officer, the documents submitted by hospitals are directly forwarded to the MOH office for birth certificate issuance, and there is no mechanism within the department to independently verify the nationality of parents.
The officer further stated that nationality verification falls under the jurisdiction of police authorities and not BMC doctors, who are already burdened with multiple administrative and medical responsibilities.
BMC Plans Administrative Restructuring
Amid the controversy, the BMC is reportedly planning to restructure the responsibilities of Medical Officers of Health, senior medical officers, and District Registrar Office staff to improve workload distribution and oversight in birth and death registration processes.
Crackdown Linked to Anti-Illegal Immigration Drive
The action against civic officials comes amid intensified enforcement against undocumented immigrants in Mumbai. In February, the city administration launched a drive against alleged illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya hawkers following directives issued by the newly appointed mayor.
The ongoing investigation into birth certificate irregularities is being viewed as part of the broader crackdown aimed at tightening documentation and identity verification processes across the city.
