Issue birth certificate to elderly couple: Court to Delhi govt

The wish of an elderly couple to meet their children living in New Zealand may now come true with a court here directing the Delhi government to issue their birth certificates which are required for immigration purpose.
The court directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kalkaji in South Delhi to issue the certificates of 73-year- old Vishwa Nath Khanna and his 60-year-old wife Madhu Khanna within two weeks.
"In the given facts and circumstances, plaintiffs (couple) are entitled to a declaration that date of birth of plaintiff no.1 Vishva Nath Khanna is December 6, 1940 and that of plaintiff no.2 Madhu Khanna is October 28, 1953 and a declaration to this effect is given.

"Further, defendant (SDM) is also directed to issue necessary certificates to the plaintiffs within two weeks of the receipt of copy of this order on completion of necessary formalities," senior civil judge Munish Markan said.
Despite issuance of summons, nobody appeared on behalf of the State and the court proceeded exparte.
The Khannas said they had applied for immigration with the New Zealand High Commission here as they planned to visit their children. The High Commission had asked them to produce birth certificates before granting immigration.

The couple, residents of Greater Kailash here, had approached the court for declaring their date of birth as mentioned in the voter ID card and passports and for directions to the SDM to issue necessary certificates for the purposes of immigration.

When they approached the SDM office for issuance of their birth certificates last year, their applications were rejected on the ground that they were born in 1940 and 1953 respectively and it was not possible for the SDM to issue the birth certificates.
The court said that the couple also relied upon their passports which clearly showed their date of birth.