Self-Certification of Documents instead of Attestation by Gazetted Officers

Self-Certification of Documents instead of Attestation by Gazetted Officers

Almost all of us might have thought why a certificate is to be got attested by a Gazetted officer when the original is certain to be verified at a later stage be it be for a job or for appearing an exam, not to mention the difficulties in getting a document attested. Often we have to wait long before a Gazetted officer to get it attested. It's always a time consuming procedure. The Good news coming is that Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions recently addressed all Govt. Departments to review the existing requirements of attested copy or affidavit in various application forms in a phased manner and wherever possible make provision for self-certification of documents, after obtaining the approval of the competent authority. That means we can self-certify in Xerox copies of our certificates and can apply. Original needs to be produced at the required time.

No.K-11022/67/2012-AR

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances

Sardar Patel Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001. Dated the 10th May, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Self-certification

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its 12th Report titled "Citizen Centric Administration - The Heart of Governance", has recommended, adoption of self-certification provision for simplifying procedures. (www:darpg.gov.in)

2. Taking a cue from this some Ministries/State Governments have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents like marksheet, birth certificate etc. by the applicants/stakeholders instead of asking for an attested copy of the documents by a Gazetted Officer or filing of affidavits. Under the self attestation method, the original documents are required,to be produced at the final stage.

3. You will appreciate that the above method is citizen friendly and obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only cost money but also involves wastage of timeof the citizens and the Government officials.

3. It is requested to kindly review the existing requirements of attested copy or affidavit in various application forms in a phased manner and wherever possible make provision for self-certification of documents, after obtaining the approval of the competent authority.

Sd/-

(Sanjay Kothari)

Secretary to the Government of India