Dog Issued Residence Certificate in Bihar, DM Launches Probe

Speedy Summary:

• In Bihar, a residence certificate was issued for a dog named “Dog Babu” through the State RTPS (Right to Public Service) portal.
• The certificate featured details such as the dog’s name,parents (“kuta Babu” and “Kutiya Devi”),and address in Masaurhi,patna district. It bore the digital signature of Revenue Officer Murari Chauhan.
• The incident occurred on July 24 during the Special intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections scheduled for October-November this year.
• District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. canceled the certificate within two minutes and ordered an investigation with a report deadline of 24 hours.
• FIRs were registered against individuals responsible: the applicant, computer operator, and issuing officer.
• The application used an aadhaar card belonging to a Delhi-based woman; further action is pending based on findings from initial probes.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This unusual case highlights cybersecurity vulnerabilities and administrative gaps in e-governance systems like Bihar’s RTPS portal. While digitization aims to streamline public service delivery, incidents like these call into question data verification processes that underpin such platforms. Ensuring robust checks is particularly vital given its role in preparations for high-stakes elections.

The swift cancellation by local authorities suggests responsiveness but also underscores systemic flaws that could erode trust among citizens.If unchecked, it risks undermining not just e-governance credibility but also high-priority democratic exercises like voter roll updates.

Investments in training personnel handling sensitive portals may curb misuse while emphasizing rigorous vetting procedures before certificates are issued. With assembly polls looming later this year, minimizing administrative errors becomes crucial for maintaining institutional reliability.

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