Ghost of Attestation Still haunts Island Youths :::: Two Departments under Same Administration adopts different work cultures

 

D J Venkatesh
Port Blair, Nov 11: Thanks to the intervention of the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh and the Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. B P Ray that this time the Education Department has allowed self attestation of testimonials in the recruitment drive initiated by the Department to fill up 422 posts of PGTs, GTTs, PSTs. Such step has come as a great relief for aspiring candidates, who, otherwise, had to run pillar to post to get their certificates attested from Gazetted Officers.

Sadly there are other departments, which still follow the colonial system of Attestation by Gazetted Officers. For example, while Education Department is demanding self attested documents, Agriculture Department is not only demanding Attested (by Gazetted Officers) documents but also attested photographs from candidates. Andaman and Nicobar Administration has strange work culture. If the Lt. Governor desires the Administration can term ‘day’ as ‘night’ and if the Lt. Governor does not pay attention in any issue, the concern department follows age old British rule, troubling general public.

When in mainland India the Central Government has already started adopting the system of Self Attestation, most of the departments in this UT Administration are still following the age old system of Attestation by Gazetted officers.

Andaman Sheekha had earlier published a document, which showed that the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances had recently issued an office memorandum in which he has urged for adopting the system of Self Certification/ Self Attestation.

Mr. Sanjay Kothari, the Secretary to the Government of India in his office memorandum has mentioned that the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its 12th Report titled “Citizen Centric Administration – The Heart of Governance”, has recommended, adoption of self-certification provision for simplifying procedures.

He added that taking a cue from this some Ministries and State Governments have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents like marksheets, birth certificate etc. by the applicants and stakeholders instead of asking for an attested copy of the documents by a Gazetted Officer or filing of affidavits. Under the self attestation method, the original documents are required, to be produced at the final stage.

“You will appreciate that the above method is citizen friendly and obtaining either an attested copy or affidavit not only cost money but also involves wastage of time of the citizens and the Government officials. It is requested to kindly review the existing requirements of attested copy or affidavit in various application forms in a phased manner and wherever possible make provision for self-certification of documents, after obtaining the approval of the competent authority,” the office memorandum number No.K-11022/67/2012-AR, dated 10th May, 2013 says.

This clearly means that if the head of the state feels, he can order for making provision for self certification of documents while applying for any job or work in Administration.

Hope the new Lt. Governor who has shown exceptional courage to change many things going against the tide for public welfare, will look into this matter and withdraw the colonial system of attestation by Gazetted officers, which will be a great blessing for the people of these Islands.