BMC Probe Flags 87,000 Illegal Birth-Death Record Changes, Suspends Two Medical Health Officers

A major internal probe by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has uncovered large-scale irregularities in birth and death registration records across Mumbai, triggering administrative action against health officials and a citywide review of record-keeping systems.

Following the findings, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has approved a five-point reform plan that includes a vigilance-led investigation into birth-death registrations across all 24 municipal wards. The plan also calls for the phased transfer of Medical Health Officers (MHOs), along with strict disciplinary measures where lapses have been identified.

According to the report, two medical health officers—one each from L (Kurla) and E (Byculla) wards—have been suspended, while a broader reshuffle of health officials is expected across the city. The action comes amid concerns over procedural violations in how sensitive civic data has been handled over the past two years.

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The probe reportedly found that over 87,000 corrections were made in birth-death records between 2024 and 2026, raising red flags about compliance and verification procedures. Of these, more than 30,000 changes were recorded in 2024 alone, and over 49,000 in 2025. Officials say a significant portion of these modifications were carried out using an older SAP-CPWM system instead of the mandatory Civic Registration System (CRS) portal, as required under national guidelines.

The issue came to light during a broader drive linked to identifying illegal migrants in Mumbai, during which authorities suspected that fraudulent birth certificates may have been issued in some cases. The civic body has now escalated the matter for deeper scrutiny, with the vigilance department expected to examine whether procedural bypassing was systemic or isolated. The reforms aim to tighten digital record controls and prevent misuse of municipal documentation systems going forward.

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