The Dhami government has ordered a statewide, time-bound probe into irregularities in family registers across Uttarakhand. Strict legal action will be taken against fake and forged entries.
Dehradun:
Taking a tough stance against alleged irregularities in family registers, the Uttarakhand government has ordered a statewide, time-bound, and impartial investigation into the matter. A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday reviewed the issue in detail and issued firm directions to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Chief Minister directed that all existing family registers across districts be immediately secured under the custody of the respective District Magistrates (DMs) to prevent any possibility of tampering or manipulation. He further instructed that a detailed scrutiny of the registers be carried out at the CDO/ADM level in every district.
To ensure a comprehensive examination, the investigation will cover entries made from 2003 to the present, enabling the identification of irregularities committed over the years. The Chief Minister made it clear that departmental and legal action will be taken against individuals whose names were entered on the basis of forged or invalid documents, strictly in accordance with the law.
Highlighting the legal framework, the Chief Minister stated that family register services are governed by the Panchayat Raj (Maintenance of Family Registers) Rules, 1970, under which registration of every rural household is mandatory. The rules also provide for correction of entries and inclusion of new names, but these provisions will now be made more stringent, transparent, and accountable.
He clarified that the Assistant Development Officer (Panchayat) is the competent authority for registering names in the family register, while appeals lie with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Presently, family register-related services are also available digitally through the Apni Sarkar portal.
During the meeting, concerns were raised that unauthorized settlements and questionable entries in family registers—particularly in rural areas of plains districts bordering the state—may have impacted demographic balance. In view of this, the government emphasized the need for amendments to the existing rules to prevent misuse.
Data presented by the Panchayati Raj Department revealed that between April 1 and December 31, 2025, a total of 2,66,294 applications were received statewide for the addition of new families. Of these, 2,60,337 applications were approved, while 5,429 were rejected due to rule violations and incomplete documentation. Officials noted that the significant number of rejections points to the possibility of fraudulent attempts, reinforcing the need to further tighten the process.
The Chief Minister directed that the investigation be conducted uniformly across all districts, including border areas, ensuring there is no regional discrimination or administrative laxity. He also instructed that a clear and comprehensive policy governing family register registrations be drafted and placed before the State Cabinet for approval.
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance approach, Chief Minister Dhami asserted that tampering with government records will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and those found guilty will face strict and exemplary action.
The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, DGP Intelligence Abhinav Kumar, Special Secretary Panchayati Raj Dr. Parag Dhakate, and Director Panchayati Raj Nidhi Yadav, among other senior officials.
