31. The only linkage document is Ext. IV, which is a certificate dated 13.09.2005 issued by the Secretary of Berbhangi Gaon Panchayat certifying that Rupali Bibi was the daughter of late Akbar Ali Bepari. It was mentioned that the said certificate was issued on the basis of “evidence” which were placed before the Gaon Panchayat Secretary. This is the only linkage document between petitioner and Akbar Ali Bepari. However, the Secretary did not testify before the Tribunal to prove the contents of the said certificate as well as the truthfulness of the contents by production of the contemporaneous record including the “evidence”. In the absence of the same, such a certificate would have no probative value. In Rupjan Begum Vs. Union of India, (2018) 1 SCC 578, Supreme Court has categorically held that such a certificate by no stretch can be said to be proof of citizenship. It is only a link document which has to be supported by other evidence. Such a certificate has to be verified at two stages, namely, authenticity of the document itself and authenticity of the contents. The second stage of verification is bound to be an exhaustive one requiring verification of all corroborative and contemporaneous record. There is nothing on record to show that such exercise was undertaken in so far Ext. IV document is concerned. Therefore, Tribunal was fully justified in not placing reliance on such a document. If this document is excluded from consideration, there is no linkage between the petitioner and Akbar Ali Bepari whom she claims to be a citizen of India and her father.
