Government decision a Congress legacy?

BJP government's much touted decision of allowing people to declare self-attestation or self-certification as a major step taken by it towards good governance lost some of its sheen with the revelation that a circular to the same effect was issued during the fag end of the UPA's tenure.

An office memorandum issued on May 10, 2013 by secretary of ministry of personnel, Sanjay Kothari, clearly states that the government wants to implement self-certification provision for simplifying procedures that was recommended for adoption by the second administrative reforms commission in its 12th report.

Marked to all the secretaries, the memorandum prods them to 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.

"You will appreciate that this 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 government officials," the letter said.

Following the memorandum, the order was put into practice by several ministries in 2013 itself.