Replace affidavits with self attestation: Centre to states

Terming gazetted-officer signed affidavits as a colonial era practice, Union Minister Jitendra Singh today asked all states to replace them with self attestation in majority of government works.
"The decision to implement self attestation is most historic and landmark decisions since independence. A circular has gone to all states. Some of the states have approved it. Some of the states are complacent. But we are pushing the practice of adopting self attestation in place of affidavits," Singh said at a seminar here.
The NDA government has been emphasising on replacing gazetted or notarised affidavits with self-attestations.
In this regard, all central government ministries have already been asked to review the existing requirements of affidavits and attested copy by gazetted officers in various forms in a phased-manner and wherever possible, make provision for self-certification of documents and abolition of affidavits.

Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, said the government was committed to end corruption and bring in anti-graft legislations.
"We have to plan and target a situation or at least endeavour to proceed in a direction where we have a society which is incorruptible by virtue," he said.

He was speaking at a seminar on 'Fighting Bribery in Business Transactions' organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) here.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary, Personnel, Sanjay Kothari talked about the twin weapons of transparency and accountability to end corruption.

"Corruption is bane for governance. It is anti-ethical, anti-Constitution, anti-conscience and anti common good," Kothari said.
In his opening remark, Patrick Moulette, head of anti-corruption division in OECD, said bribery is bad for business and there is huge negative effect of it in the society.