Thiruvananthapuram, Oct. 14 -- Kerala has urged the Centre to amend the existing law to reduce the seven-year waiting period for issuing death certificates to people missing at sea, Fisheries Minister V E Abdul Ghafoor told the state Assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to questions raised by M Vincent and C R Manoj during Question Hour, the minister said the state government had formally approached the Centre seeking a legal amendment to shorten the mandatory period, which poses serious hardships for the families of missing fishermen.
Under the existing provisions, a death certificate can be issued only after seven years of a person going missing. The delay creates difficulties for the affected families in settling various matters, prompting ...