In Kozhikode district of Kerala, a complaint has been lodged regarding the denial of a birth certificate for a newborn, citing that the birth occurred at home rather than in a hospital. The complaint was filed by Sharafath, a resident of Kottooli in Kozhikode, against health department officials. The complaint, which reached the Human Rights Commission, highlights that despite the child being born on November 2, 2024, and four months having passed, a birth certificate has not yet been issued.

What happened during the birth?

Sharafath's wife, Asna Jasmine, sought antenatal care at a private hospital in Kozhikode. On October 28, the hospital provided a due date for the birth. However, as Asna did not experience labour pains, the couple chose to remain at home. 

According to Sharafath, on the morning of November 2, Asna experienced the onset of labour pains and gave birth at home. After the birth, Sharafath went out to buy a blade, which he used to sever the umbilical cord.

The birth took place at around 11 AM on November 2. By 2 PM, Sharafath had submitted an application for the birth certificate through the K-Smart system. Four days later, an ASHA worker came to conduct a check-up, but as of now, the birth certificate has still not been issued. This delay led Sharafath to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Why was the birth certificate not issued?

The Health Department argues that, under standard procedure, pregnancies must be registered within the public health system. The authorities claim that Sharafath and his wife did not adhere to these requirements, and there are no adequate records of the birth. However, officials have stated that once the necessary documentation confirming the birth at the specified address is provided, there should be no obstacle to issuing the birth certificate.