PMO asks govt departments to allow self attestation of documents

Move to help common man, originals will be needed at final stage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, through a statement issued from his office, reportedly asked all government departments to allow self-certification/ attestation of documents and to reduce the use of affidavits in a bid to ease the problems faced by the common man.

“The prime minister said self attestation should be enough because it is a hassle for the common man to get it attested from gazetted officers. Anyway, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage,” a senior government official had earlier told Business Standard.

All ministries and departments at the Centre and in States have reportedly been asked to make a provision for self-certification of documents in place of affidavits.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Friday said that the requirement of attestation by gazetted officers is sought to be replaced by self-certification by the citizen.

Under the self-certification method, the original documents are required to be produced at the final stage.

In case of false self-certification, the person can be booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).