Team Herald
MARGAO: The Managing Committee of the South Goa Advocates Association, led by its President Adv Prasad Naik, along with Adv Narendra Sawaikar, called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to demand an inquiry into the fraudulent registration of marriage certificates at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Margao using forged documents.
In their petition submitted to the Chief Minister, the advocates alleged that numerous forged residence certificates were being used to register marriages, compromising the integrity of the marriage registration process.
They claimed that such fraudulent residence certificates were being issued by agents or touts, some of whom falsely presented themselves as advocates, thereby tarnishing the reputation of the legal fraternity.
Furthermore, they raised concerns that fraudulent, bogus, doctored, or modified documents were being submitted to various government departments as proof for obtaining residence certificates, marriage registrations, name changes, sale deeds, and other official records. They warned that if this malpractice was not immediately curbed, the credibility of the entire system would be at risk.
To prevent such fraud, the association recommended that the government establish a mechanism for electronic submission of documents, with a verification system to detect fraudulent or doctored documents at the time of processing applications. This, they argued, would empower issuing authorities to verify the authenticity of submitted documents.
In his petition, Adv Narendra Sawaikar further recommended that photographs of both applicants or declarants should be affixed to the final marriage registration certificate to establish the identity of the married couple.
In response, the Chief Minister assured the delegation of lawyers that the government would take the matter seriously and directed the State Registrar to investigate their concerns without delay.