MADURAI: A shocking information is coming into public domain about collection of bribe from people by some employees for issuing online registration birth or death certificates in Madurai Corporation area. On 5th June 2021, a whistle-blower had alerted ‘Lotus Times’ website about the manner in which bribe is being taken at Sammattipuram ward office of Madurai Corporation in Madurai.
At Sammattipuram ward office which is situated near Kalavasal-Byspass Road in Madurai, a minimum of Rs.200 is being collected as bribe for issuing birth and death certificates. “There is a huge corruption network taking place at Madurai Corporation’s Sammattipuram ward office here. We want this to be exposed and get the accused punished,” sources told ‘Lotus Times’ website today. (Last week, Rs.4,000 was demanded as bribe there to get 20 copies of death certificate of a person).
Stating that some staff are involved in this bribe collection illegal activities, the whistle-blower has said that their money grabbing did not stop even during the tough Corona crisis period. “Everything is online now for birth and death registration. Yet bribe is being demanded for issuance of birth-death certificates to general public. A public attention board should be there in the front entrance of Sammattipuram ward office informing that birth or death certificates are given free,” sources added.
Sammattipuram ward office of Madurai Corporation covers five wards in that area and 40 hospitals from where it gets information about births and deaths. Based on that, the birth / death certificates are issued. A request has been made on June 5th 2021 to the Madurai Corporation higher authorities to intervene, catch hold of the persons and stop bribes in Sammattipuram. Maybe the DVAC can swing into action immediately or at an appropriate time.
