GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM

HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (A) DEPARTMENT

DISPUR, GUWAHATI 6

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

No. HLA.100/2012/198 Dated, Dispur the 8th April, 2013

Subject : Issuance of Death Certificate

Introduction:-
Registration of Death in India is mandatory after the enactment of Registration of Birth
and Deaths Act, 1969. In Assam, the Registration of Births & Deaths Rules, 1978 framed
by the Health Department under the various provisions of RBD Act, 1969. These Rules
are implemented throughout Assam with effect from 01-04-1978.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Civil Registration functionaries

Chief Registrar of Births & Deaths
Director of Health Services, Assam)
(To Monitor and Inspection the works of registration)

District Registrar of Births & Deaths

(All Deputy Commissioners in the Districts)
(Shall be responsible for carrying into execution in the District)

Additional District Registrar of Births & Deaths

(All the Jt. Director of Health Services in Districts)

Local Registrar of Births & Deaths (Registering and issuing Certificate)

(The institution wise existing Registrars of Births & Deaths in Assam given below)

Eligibility Criteria:-
For registering Death, the informants will have to submit application in the office of the
Registrar of Birth and Death alongwith the Medical Certificate of cause of death for
institutional cases in the death reporting form (FORM No- 2) at the nearest Registration
offices within 21 days of occurrence and get an Extract (Death Certificate) with free of
cost. Additional copies of certificate can be had on payment of prescribed fee per copy.
There is, however, no limit for applying for additional number of copies.

The persons authorized under the RBD Act as informants and Notifier by place of
occurrence as follows:-
Place of Occurrence Informants Notifier
House Head of the household/ ANMS / ASHAs/
oldest person of the Anganwadi worked /
household/ Heir of the Gaonburahs / Keepers or
deceased. Owners etc.
Institutional Hospital / I/c- of Institution or any
Other Health / Nursing person authorized by
Homes etc institutions
Jail/ Hotel/ Dharmasala/ Jail In-charge
Choultry, Hostel etc
Public Place (dead body I/c. Police Station or Head
found deserted) person in village area
Events in moving vehicles Person in-charge of moving
/ Aircraft boat, ship , Rail vehicle
Plantation Superintendent/ Manager

Procedures to obtain Death Certificate:-

The informants / Notifier shall apply with duly filled in Death Reporting form F-2
alongwith the form 4 (institutional) or Form 4A (Non institutional cases) as the case
may be to the local Registrar of Birth and Deaths within 21 days at place of occurrence.

The concerned Registrar will issue the Death Certificate, free of charge to the person
who has given the information for registration as soon as the registration of death has
been completed. (Section- 12).

Steps simplify :
 After death of a person applicant (informant) will inform within 21 days to the
nearest Registration Office (i.e.SD/PHC/CHC/DH etc.) and fill the form F-2 alongwith
the Form 4 (institutional) or Form 4A (Non institutional cases) with the help of
official staff of Registration Office.

 Then he deposits the Form F-2 alongwith the form 4 (institutional) or Form 4A
(Non institutional cases) i.e. Death certificate from Health Institution in case of
institutional death and other than institutional death notified certificate from
Doctor/ANM/ASHA Workers/ Anganwadi Workers/Goanburha with a cremation
certificate at the registration office. Then he will get the Death certificate within 10
days without any fees.

The institution wise existing Registrars of Births & Deaths in Assam:

A. The Superintendent of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati, Assam
Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh, Silchar Medical College & Hospital, Silchar,
Ayurvedic College Hospital, Guwahati, District Hospitals in the Districts and Sub-
Divisional Hospitals, Hospital in their respective hospital.

Any event of birth & death occurring in these hospitals, the respective Registrar will
register the event.

B. The Deputy Superintendent of Community Health Centers.

C. The Medical & Health officers in charge of primary Health Centers, Subsidiary
Health Canters, Mini PHCs, State Dispensaries.

They will registrar their event to their jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction
The Office of the Director of Health Services as the Office of the Chief Registrar shall be
responsible for registration and issue of birth and death certificates in the State. Chief
Registrar shall be responsible for issue of registers, forms and certificates to all
Registration Centers of Birth and Deaths in Assam.

In urban areas in addition to the above listed functionaries of the Department of Health
& FW designated as Registrars, the designated official of the Gauhati Municipal
Corporation in Guwahati Municipal Area and designated officials of Urban Local Bodies
in urban areas will register and issue birth and death certificates under the aegis of the
Department of Health & FW.
In exercise of the power conferred by section 7(1) of the Registration of Birth and Death
Act, 1969, the State Government may appoint a Registrar for each local area comprising
the area within the jurisdiction of a municipality.
In the notified Panchayet areas the functionaries of Health & FW Department
designated as Registrars will be responsible for registration and issue of Birth
Certificates.
Jurisdiction of Appellate Authority and Reviewing Authority are Joint Director of Health
Services of the District and Director of Health Services, Assam respectively.

Registration of Death of Citizens Outside India : Death to Indian citizens outside India
cannot be registered in India. Such deaths are registered at the Indian Consulates under
Citizenship Act 1955 and would deem to have been made under the RDB Act 1969.
Registration of Deaths of Missing Persons: Ordinarily, if a person is missing or unheard,
she/he shall be presumed to be dead by the court under Section 107 and 108 of Indian
Evidence Act on expiry of 7 years from the date of missing and not earlier. Competent
court/authority will issue an order in such cases. If the Court does not mention the date
of death in the order, the date on which plaintiff approached to the Court would be
taken as the date of death.

Registration of deaths in natural Calamities and Disasters : In such cases the Chief
Registrar will appoint sufficient Sub Registrars with sufficient power for on spot
registration of the deaths and issuance of death certificates needs to be made.

Standard application forms:-

F-2 Death reporting form
F-4- Medical certification of cause of death (institutional).
F-4A- Medical certification of cause of death (Non - institutional).
Sufficient forms to be kept in each Registration Centre. Annexure- I.

List of documents to be enclosed:-

For registering Death event, Death Reporting Form-2 alongwith form 4 (institutional)
or Form 4A (Non institutional cases) as the case may be to the local Registrar of Birth
and Deaths within 21 days at place of occurrence

Users charge
Fee for 1st copy of Death Certificate - Nil (within 21 days of birth)
Fee for extra copy of Death Certificate Rs. 5.00 per copy

Citizen Charter (Rule-6)

Copy enclosed : Standard Certificate formats

(C. Barua, ACS)

Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Assam
Health & Family Welfare Department