Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, that they may rest from their labors. True. The problem is for the survivors.

V. Srinivasa Rengan is a resident of Kodeeswaran Nagar near Pettai in Tirunelveli District. His mother V Sundaralakshmi died on May 13. He submitted an application to the Village Administrative Officer of Pettai for issuance of a death certificate. The VAO declined to register it and directed him to approach the VAO of the neighbouring Kunnathur panchayat. Srinivasa Rengan promptly went there. The Kunnathur VAO also turned down his request. Refusing to register Srimathy Sundaralakshmi's death, he 'guided' him to get her death registered by a competent officer of Tirunelveli Corporation.

He has been paying all his taxes to the Kunnathur panchayat without any outstanding due. He has a medical certificate on the death of his dear mother from a qualified doctor. But the Village administration is least responsive to his request.

Literally driven from pillar to post, Srinivasa Rengam has since approached the District Collector with a petition. We hope he will succeed in his attempt to untie the red-tape's Gordian Knot.