There are not only two offices for one post but also two persons acting as the signing authority with both having the powers of local registrar since over a decade. This has further resulted in division of records between both offices, leaving the applicants in a fix as to which office to approach when they want details regarding births and deaths.

It has been learnt that while some records are lying with the Zone D office at Middha Chowk, other records are kept at the other office near Clock Tower. Sources said records pertaining to deaths in Zone C and D and birth record from 2004 onward are available with the Zone office; other records are kept at the second office.

Sudarshan Kumar Sharma, acting as the Local Registrar of Zone A and B at office housed in the building near Clock Tower, confirmed that most of the records were kept in his office and only some of the records were kept at the other office. “The other office holds records relating to deaths in Zone C and D and also the records of birth from 2004 onwards. This has inconvenienced the applicants as they are unable to figure out the office they should visit.

When asked about which office to approach for records, Charnajit Singh Uppal, who has recently taken charge at Middha Chowk Office, said, “Since we have only part of the records at this office, mostly relating to death and birth from 2000 onwards when the office was set up here, we have to direct some queries to the other office for the other part of the records.

Besides, one of the offices housed in the Municipal Corporation building near Clock Tower is in a dilapidated condition to the extent that its roofs leak, cemented walls have flaked bare and the water tank has never been cleaned for years now.

When asked about its deteriorated condition, Dharam Singh, senior engineer, B&R department, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, said the fate of the building would be decided only when the design of the project of a flyover to be built in place of Lakkar Pul will get clearance. He added there were chances that the building might have to be removed from the site.

Sharma claims that he should be given the complete charge of the Local Registrar in keeping with a notification issued by the Principal Secretary, Local Bodies Department, in June 1997 when he was Superintendent, Vaccination in LMC.

According to the health department, however, it is the MOH, (medical office, health) who is appointed by the health department as Local Registrar.