DIPR
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 17
The critically inconvenient practice of getting gazetted officers to attest documents has been stopped by the government as part of measures to make verification more “citizen-friendly.”
The chief secretary of Nagaland has informed that the Second Administrative Reforms Commission of the Government of India has recommended adoption of self-certification provision for simplifying procedures for production of documents such as birth certificates and mark sheets. The Government of India has adopted the system of self-certification of documents such as mark sheets and birth certificates by the applicants instead of asking for an attested copy of the documents by a gazette officer or filing of affidavits.
Under the self-attestation method, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage, the chief secretary stated in an office memorandum on Wednesday.
Considering the “citizen-friendly method” of self-certification, it has been decided by the Government of Nagaland that all the departments, educational institutions should accept self-certification of only on mark sheets, birth certificates, scheduled tribe / scheduled caste certificates, and Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates which do not require any affidavit or certification by the notary public/magistrates shall be permitted.
However, the chief secretary has directed that minors under the law shall not be allowed to certify. The respective parents/legal guardians may certify for their wards.
All self-certifications are to accompany a self-declaration and the penalty for false statements/certificates which is enclosed.
The department/head of office/head of department/head of institute shall however be vested with the responsibility of ascertaining the genuineness of the certificates, the memorandum stated.
