Woman issued 2 death certs, HC orders probe

CUTTACK: The issuance of two death certificates to the same woman, with different dates of death, has come to light during the adjudication on a review petition by the Orissa high court.
Taking note of it, the HC has ordered a crime branch probe into the apparent attempt to manipulate the death of Manorama Nayak of Asurali in Bhadrak district.
In one certificate, the date of death is registered as June 12, 2006, while in another it is mentioned as June 12, 2015.Both the death certificates were purportedly issued by the state health department.
The single-judge bench of Biswanath Rath said, "This court finds there is some attempt to manipulate the date of death of Manorama Nayak and both sides rely on multiple death certificates indicating different dates of death involving one common person."
"It is, in this circumstance while declining to entertain the review petition, directs the superintendent of police, Crime Branch, Cuttack to examine the issue involved in this matter within two months," Justice Rath said in his November 1 order, a copy of which was available on Sunday.
Justice Rath expected the crime branch to, if necessary, initiate proceedings against the person who attempted to manipulate the date of death of Manorama Nayak and even against the competent authority, if it has a role in issuing such a certificate. A subordinate court in Bhadrak had passed an order in a land dispute case. Subsequently, an appeal against the order was filed before the court of district judge, Cuttack.