Collectors and Tahsildars told to prevent coercive collection of money for issue of certificates

Amid reports of some Tahsildars compelling legal heir certificate applicants to contribute to the Flag Day Fund or similar funds, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department has asked the Collectors to ensure that the certificates are issued “promptly within the prescribed time limit” and “without delay”.

The Department issues 27 types of documents online after an online system was launched in 2015 for issuing community certificates. During 2024-25, nearly 87 lakh certificates were issued. In the last four years, about 3.44 crore certificates had been issued. It is offering e-sevai services in all districts in collaboration with Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA).

Disciplinary action

In a circular issued to the Collectors a few days ago, Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Additonal Chief Secretary M. Saikumar said that while issuing all types of documents, “under no circumstances shall applicants be compelled, directly or indirectly, to make any payment or contribution towards the Flag Day collection or any other fund…” He warned that “any deviation from these instructions will be viewed seriously, and disciplinary action will be initiated against the officials concerned”.

Pointing out that the purpose of issuing certificates online “is to have a seamless delivery of services” on time, he said the complaints about the delayed issue of certificates and putting the complaints on the back burner tweaked the government’s “value-based strategies, compliance-based measures”. There were “specific complaints” that community and legal heir certificates and pattas “are being issued only after the individuals deposit a certain amount of Flag Day Fund”. The circular emphasised that “coercive collection of any fund for the issue of certificates and pattas is highly irregular and shall be discontinued forthwith”.

‘Essential document’

Describing the legal heir certificate as an “essential document” sought by the heirs of a deceased individual for processing intestate succession, the Commissioner of Revenue Administration explained that “inordinate delay” in taking a decision on issuing the documents “will affect the entitlement” of the applicants.

Requesting the Collectors to sensitise the Tahsildars to the need for “fostering a sense of responsibility” for avoiding “unnecessary complaints”, he clarified that his instructions “are not specific to legal heir certificates” and were applicable to other certificates too.

Besides the legal heir certificate, the other documents being issued include Community Certificate, Income Certificate, Nativity Certificate, Deserted Women Certificate, Agriculture Income Certificate, Inter-Caste Marriage Certificate, Widow Certificate, Unemployment Certificate, Family Migration Certificate, Small/Marginal Farmers Certificate, Certificate for Loss of Educational Records due to disasters, Unmarried Certificate, No Male Child Certificate, and Residency Certificate.

Apart from licences for money-lenders and licences under the Tamil Nadu Pawn Brokers Act, the Revenue Department issues Other Backward Classes Certificate, Economically Weaker Sections (Income & Assets) Certificate, Destitute Widow Certificate, Jain Religious Minority Certificate, Public Building Licence, Temporary Cracker Licence, Backward Class Muslim Community Certificate (for converts to Islam from BC/Most BC/Denotified Communities/Scheduled Castes), and the First Graduate Certificate. Of late, Solvency Certificate is also being issued, says a senior official.