Affidavits not needed to get certificates

Chittaranjan Tembhekar TNN 

Mumbai: You no longer need to file an affidavit on a stamp paper in order to obtain various certificates and documents from the state government. 
    The state has listed 61 certificates and documents —among them the domicile, income and marriage certificate—which people can now get simply by signing a self declaration form which is available online. An affidavit will not be needed even from those seeking a voter card in the absence of address proof. 
    Applicants will thus be able to save both time and money (Rs 50 to Rs 100) spent on preparing affidavits. 
    A resolution in this regard was issued in August, making Maharashtra the second state after Punjab to have taken such a step, and those applying either manually at state facilitation centres at district or municipal offices or at over 35 online service centres are benefiting from the move, officials said.

GOVT E-SERVICES

Caste certificates not exempt from new state rule

Less Money Now Spent On Getting Docus

Chittaranjan Tembhekar TNN 

Mumbai: The state government’s decision to do away with the requirement of affidavits for obtaining government certificates will come as a relief for many. Information technology secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said, “During the British era, the rulers didn’t trust us and started the system of affidavits, which continued till recently for almost all services. People had to run from pillar to post to find notary or gazette officers. Following the state decision to allow self-attestations instead of attestations from gazetted officers, we decided to do away with the affidavit system.” 
    If an applicant had to earlier spend a minimum of Rs 54 to get a certificate or a document, the expense he was now incurring was 50 per cent less, Aggarwal said. 
    Affidavits will, however, be required in the case of caste certificates because of certain issues involved, officials said. 


NO AFFIDAVIT NEEDED FOR... 
Domicile certificate | Income certificate | Resident certificate | Senior citizen certificate | Farmer or farm labourer certificate | Land ownership certificate | Economically weaker section certificate | No balance due certificate | Marriage certificate | Character certificate | Landless person’s certificate | NOCs such as for electricity supply | Common man’s insurance scheme enrollment | Birth and death certificate | Non creamy-layer certificate | Duplicate ration card | Voter card (in the absence of address proof) | Employment registration 


What is an affidavit? It is an undertaking given by a person on a stamp paper announcing that whatever information he/ she had provided to get certificates or avail services from the government is correct, and in case it is found false, he would be liable for prosecution and punishment under the law
Source:::: The Times of India, 28-11-2013, p.01,   http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/11/28&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00107&ViewMode=HTML