CM pushes for self-attestation of papers by citizens

To curb corruption and improve transparency, the Arvind Kejriwal ministry is likely to discuss on Tuesday its blueprint to introduce self-attestation and do away with the need of filing affidavits or getting various certificates attested by gazetted officers and lawmakers.

The principle in relaxation of the rule is that the government should trust citizens and not suspect them while seeking details for documentation, said an official.

To check misuse of the self-attestation norms, the Delhi government is also planning to impose a tough penalty on citizens who deliberately furnish wrong information to various departments.

The relaxation of rules for attestation of documents by gazetted officers and lawmakers is part of the paradigm shift in governance that Kejriwal promised soon after taking oath as the chief minister. The self-attestation provision has also been recommended to all state governments by the central government.

An official in the revenue department, which issues over 14 types of certificates to people, said self attestation would bring relief to people who have to go through a tedious wrangles while applying for birth, death or marriage certificates.

“In a meeting on the subject held on October 29, minor issues were ironed out. Tuesday’s discussions will firm up the plan and integrate it with the e-governance project likely to be introduced from November 19,” said an official.

According to Kejriwal, the step will help weed out corruption and that the government would ensure tough penalty in case of wrong information or particulars in self-attestation forms or tax evasion.

The chief minister earlier promised that his government “will end the process of getting documents signed by gazetted officers and lawmakers.”

Several rounds of discussions have been held with SDMs on the issue and suggestions from bureaucrats and the ground level staff in the revenue department offices have been incorporated. Kejriwal said the government would take all self-attested papers on face value but any fraud won’t be tolerated.

The AAP government’s proposal to promote self-attestation is in sync with the Centre’s decision to do away with the need of filing affidavits attested by a gazetted officer or a notary for several government-related work.

An advisory sent to Chief Secretary K K Sharma on the subject was also circulated among all departments to come up with suggestions to simplify documentation in government offices with public dealings.