5. Legal recognition of electronic signatures

5. Legal recognition of electronic signatures

Where any law provides that

information or any other matter shall be authenticated by affixing the signature or any document should be signed or bear the signature of any person then,

notwithstanding anything contained in such law, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied, if such information or matter is authenticated by means of electronic signatures affixed in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “signed”, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall, with reference to a person, mean affixing of his hand written signature or any mark on any document and the expression “signature” shall be construed accordingly.

Summary

• This section is analogous to Section 4 which allows the replacement of written or typed records with electronic records.
• This section allows the replacement of a physical signature with a Digital Signature.