If getting a fake birth certificate is child’s play in Patna, getting a genuine one under names of fictitious persons — even if they are the same as those of the chief minister of the state and his family members — is equally easy.

On February 20, The Telegraph had revealed how easy it is to get a fake birth certificate made for a fee of Rs 180 from touts at the Patna collectorate, right under the nose of the district magistrate’s office.

The administration had then promised action against the unscrupulous agents who take people for a ride. None was taken.

When The Telegraph returned to the collectorate on February 21, it found that it was business as usual for the touts. In fact, the touts bragged that they could produce an “authentic and genuine” birth certificate, without any documents and no questions asked, within a “day or two”.

The crucial document is usually issued by the registrar of birth and death of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) free of cost within 21 days of birth. A birth certificate is required for obtaining passports, in legal proceedings, securing citizenship of a country etc. It is also mandatory for admission to school.

The Telegraph decided to check the veracity of the touts’ claim.

On February 21, this reporter asked one of the touts to get a genuine birth certificate made in the name Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar of Patna, with the date of birth shown as July 25, 2010.

The reporter had to fill up two forms and an affidavit, but no document was asked for. Under normal circumstances, the details provided in the forms and affidavit are to be verified by the block statistical officer. Based on his verification report, the block development officer concerned sends a report to the PMC, on the basis of which the birth certificate is issued.

The reporter said she wanted the certificate by Saturday, February 23. The tout agreed but said the fee would be Rs 800, with Rs 500 to be paid in advance — “Madam, doosre ko dena hoga (Madam, I will have to pay off others).”

The reporter gave him the advance but reminded the agent that the certificate had to be genuine. The tout assured her it would be “100 per cent” genuine, duly registered in the PMC records. “Aapko jaha milana hai mila lijiyega, sab sahi rahega (Wherever you have to get it verified, you verify it. Everything will be ok),” he said.

True to his word, the document was ready by Saturday evening. On Sunday, February 24, the tout called the reporter to a place in Kankerbagh and handed over the birth certificate — with the registration number 13998 and registered on February 23, 2013.

On February 27, The Telegraph submitted an application to the registrar (Birth & Death) of PMC to verify the authenticity of the birth certificate.

In its reply, dated March 6, 2013, the PMC confirmed that the details given in the birth certificate were correct.

The fictitious Nishant, son of Nitish Kumar, has been given a life.