PATNA, July 29 -- In a bizarre incident that has raised serious questions about the security of government Right to Public Services (RTPS) systems, a domicile certificate has been found issued in the name of a dog in Bihar's Patna district. This is at a time when during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a number of Bihar citizens had complained that they don't have domicile documents. The domicile certificate, which has a watermark of the Bihar government and was generated through the state's RTPS portal, reads, "It is proven that 'Dog Babu', and a canines photo, whose father is 'Kutta Babu' and mother 'Kutiya Babu', of Mohalla Kaulichak, Ward No 15, Nagar Parishad Masaurhi, Patna, is a permanent resident." The certificate has a QR code and was issued on July 24 and has been digitally signed by Revenue Officer Murari Chauhan. As soon as the news spread, an inquiry was ordered to find how such a certificate was issued and who was responsible. The Bihar Prashasnik Sudhar Mission Society found that two employees, including revenue officer and an IT assistant, were found guilty. An FIR was lodged against both the employees besides some unknown persons at the Masaurhi police station. The IT assistant was terminated from the service while revenue officer would likely be suspended after the DM will send his recommendation against him with land and reforms department. In order to obtain a residence/domicile certificate a person needs to apply through the RTPS portal and provide proof of residence like Aadhar card, voter ID, birth certificate or school leaving certificate. The documents are uploaded online and the certificate is issued after verification. The certificate can be downloaded online or collected from a designated office. Officials said that it seems that the certificate was issued as per the usual process following verification as it has the revenue officer's digital signature, which can't be done without his dongle. The question that arises is who used the dongle and how, they added. The probe into the certificate number found that the supporting documents uploaded with the application form belonged to a woman from Delhi. Besides, Aadhar card and other documents were also uploaded. "It clearly appears that someone has tampered with the system," officials said. Prabhat Ranjan, Circle Officer, Masaurhi, said, "This is not a joke but a serious case of tampering with the government's system and documents. It will be probed as to how the dongle of the revenue officer was misused." This is not an isolated incident. A similar case was reported earlier in Munger, where a residence certificate was issued to a 'Sonalika tractor'. Such cases have drawn widespread criticism and mockery online. Social media users have reacted with humour, joking that if 'Dog Babu' can receive a valid certificate, 'Batti Didi' (electricity supply) might get a ration card next, and 'Cow Mata' a driving licence. Many are now questioning the security and credibility of the RTPS portal, suggesting it might need a digital firewall or 'anti-virus', given its vulnerability to accepting false entries Activist-commentator and Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav took a dig at the Bihar government for issuing a residence certificate to a dog in Patna and said that this is the same certificate that is being considered for SIR, "while Aadhaar and ration cards are being called fake." The Patna DM Thiyagarajan SM assured that an FIR has been registered at the concerned police station against the applicant, the computer operator, and the officer who issued the certificate. "The Masaurhi SDO has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation of the entire matter and submit a report within 24 hours. Departmental and disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty employees and officers," said the DM. Thiyagarajan suspected the role of some "mischievous" element behind the issuance of a residence certificate with the name 'Dog Babu'. He said that the administration cancelled the certificate within two minutes after the anomaly was detected in the certificate. "The certificate was applied on July 15 and issued on July 24 at 3.56 pm and was immediately cancelled within two minutes at 3.58 pm," the district magistrate said. He further mentioned that authorities, in coordination with the Cyber police station, are tracking the suspect, adding that necessary action is being taken against officials involved in the negligence. "The process to suspend them is underway. Through the cyber police station, we are also trying to find out who did this and why such an application was filed. We will investigate and take action against all those who are behind this," he added....