Nagaland
Documents need not be attested by gazetted officers any more
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.