In a baffling administrative oversight, the Bihar government inadvertently issued a residence (domicile) certificate to a dog named “Dog Babu”, officially recorded as the son of “Kutta Babu” and “Kutiya Devi,” amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The absurd incident has ignited widespread ridicule across social media, while also raising serious concerns about the integrity of government e-governance systems.
The Incident: A Certificate Issued to a Canine
On July 24, 2025, at precisely 3:56 pm, Bihar’s RTPS (Right to Public Services) portal generated a digital domicile certificate for a Golden Retriever named Dog Babu. The certificate bizarrely included a photo of the dog and officially listed his parents as “Kutta Babu” and “Kutiya Devi.” According to NDTV, The document bore the digital signature of revenue officer Murari Chauhan, lending it an air of authenticity.
Within two minutes of the issuance, authorities canceled the certificate upon realizing the glaring anomaly. Investigations traced the root cause to the misuse of Aadhaar and identity documents uploaded under the profile of a Delhi-based woman, pointing toward potential data tampering. FIRs have since been registered against the applicant, the computer operator, and the approving officer, with one government employee suspended and another dismissed.
Political and Public Reactions: Humor Meets Serious Critique
Political commentators and citizens alike expressed a mix of amusement and dismay. Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India mocked the incident by highlighting the irony that the certificate for “Dog Babu” was accepted during the SIR process, while legitimate documents like Aadhaar and ration cards face rejection in Bihar’s ongoing voter list controversy.
The public’s reaction ranged from laughter at the bizarre scenario to frustration over governmental negligence:
“Only in Bihar would a residence certificate be issued to a dog named Dog Babu, with the father’s name listed as Kutta Babu,” commented a social media user.
“This exposes the poor quality and oversight within Bihar’s government machinery,” remarked another.
Underlying Issues: E-Governance and Electoral Integrity at Risk
This bizarre event has cast a spotlight on several systemic problems:
- Verification lapses in Bihar’s RTPS platform, where even documents bearing government-issued digital signatures can slip through unchecked.
- Potential misuse and tampering of identity credentials, prompting district officials to term the incident “very serious” and vow prompt disciplinary action.
- Risk of voter disenfranchisement, with genuine applicants struggling to update their records amid such glaring errors.
Opposition parties have seized upon the incident to lambast the Election Commission and the Nitish Kumar government, alleging widespread mismanagement.
Not an Isolated Case: Pattern of Administrative Lapses
This is not an isolated case. Recently, a residence certificate was also issued in the name of a “Sonalika tractor,” complete with the vehicle’s photograph replacing that of a human applicant. Such incidents highlight a disturbing trend of digital records being manipulated or carelessly verified.
The Road Ahead: Urgent Need for Reform and Accountability
To restore public trust and ensure the sanctity of digital governance, Bihar authorities must undertake the following measures:
- Comprehensive forensic audits of the RTPS system to trace access and misuse of credentials.
- Identify and hold accountable the individuals responsible for submitting fraudulent applications.
- Implement stricter verification protocols, including multi-layer authentication and mandatory human review for suspicious entries.
- Strengthen training and oversight for officials handling sensitive digital processes.
Photo Credit: HT
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