Government Order (Standing) No. 58, Recording Islam in Birth, Death and School Registers, 2005
The Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department issued Government Order (Standing) No. 58 dated 8 June 2005, directing that the religion of Muslims be entered as “Islam” in birth, death and school registers and all government documents. The Registration Department circulated the direction through Letter No. 64839/G2/2005 dated 23 February 2006 and instructed registration officers to follow it.
What the document does
The Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department issued Government Order (Standing) No. 58 dated 8 June 2005. It requires birth registers, death registers, school registers and all other government documents to record the religion of Muslims as “Islam”.
The Registration Department later sent a copy of the government order to all Deputy Inspectors General of Registration and all District Registrars through Letter No. 64839/G2/2005 dated 23 February 2006. Those officers were instructed to act in accordance with the government order.
Reason for the direction
Government Order (Standing) No. 58 records that Muslim children were sometimes entered in birth registration offices and schools with “Muslim” in the religion field. The representations considered by the Government explained that:
- The religion is Islam.
- A person who follows Islam is a Muslim.
- Entering “Muslim” where the religion should be recorded as “Islam” could cause confusion later.
The Government considered a recommendation from the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board. It also noted that the religion of Muslims was recorded as Islam in Kerala and Karnataka.
Records covered
Government Order (Standing) No. 58 applies to the description of religion in:
- Birth registers.
- Death registers.
- School registers.
- All government documents.
The direction concerns the wording used in the religion field. Where the religion of a Muslim person is recorded, the entry must be “Islam” rather than “Muslim”.
Who may be affected
Government Order (Standing) No. 58 is relevant to Muslim individuals whose religion is entered in government records, and to officials responsible for preparing or maintaining those records. District Registrars and other Registration Department officers were specifically instructed to follow the direction.
For property buyers, owners and professionals, the text does not introduce a land rule, registration fee, stamp duty rate or property transaction procedure. Its stated purpose is limited to how religion is described in official records.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
What should be entered in the religion column for a Muslim person?
The religion must be entered as “Islam”, not “Muslim”, in the records covered by Government Order (Standing) No. 58.
Does the direction apply only to birth and death registers?
No. It applies to birth registers, death registers, school registers and all government documents.
Were Registration Department officers told to follow this requirement?
Yes. The Registration Department sent Letter No. 64839/G2/2005 dated 23 February 2006 to all Deputy Inspectors General of Registration and all District Registrars, instructing them to act according to the government order.
Does this document change any property registration fee or stamp duty rate?
The document does not state any property registration fee, stamp duty rate or land procedure. It addresses only the description of religion in government records.
