Kerala’s Nativity card Bill moots penalties for submitting false details

The Kerala Nativity Card Bill proposes a punishment of up to three months or a fine up to ₹5,000 or both if an applicant for the card furnishes information that is false or believed to be false.

Modelled on the nativity certificate currently issued by the State’s Revenue department, the nativity card, which incorporates beneficiary’s photograph, is envisaged as a new identification document to establish one’s identity as a Keralite.

Coming against the backdrop of the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and the consequent concerns over citizenship, the card is conceived as an authoritative, legally valid, permanent identity proof.

The government intends to issue the nativity cards to all people born in the State. It will be used to access State government services, assistance, and other “social requirements.”

A person born in Kerala but who has not accepted foreign citizenship or someone who has a Kerala-born ancestor who had not accepted foreign citizenship can apply for the card. People born outside Kerala to parents or ancestors who were outside the State for work or livelihood-related reasons and who have not received foreign citizenship will also be considered a ‘native.’

The tahsildar is the designated authority for sanctioning the nativity card. The card can be updated with information as required by the government from time to time. The card holder can also apply for any entry change along with supporting documents to the tahsildar.

Any appeals in the event of rejection of an application by the tahsildar can be submitted to the revenue divisional officer (RDO). Any complaints on the RDO’s order can be submitted to the District Collector as a revision petition.

Two months after the proposal to introduce the nativity card received the Cabinet’s in-principle approval, the Kerala Nativity Card Bill has been cleared by it and is likely to be tabled in the current session of the Assembly, which will resume on Monday. Once the Bill is passed by the Assembly, it will have to be signed by the Governor to become an Act. Rules will be framed then and the software for issuing the cards developed. The Kerala government hopes to begin issuing the cards before its term ends in a couple of months.