Issue of Certificate by Digital Signature

Green Initiative in the Corporate Governance-Issue of Certificate by Digital Signature

General Circular No. 29/2011

No 17/95/2011/CL.V

Government of India

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

5′h floor, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan,

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi

Dated: 20.05.2011

All the Regional Directors,

All the Registrar of Companies

Sub: Green Initiative in the Corporate Governance — Issue of Certificate by Digital Signature

Sir,

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has taken a “Green Initiative in the Corporate Governance” by allowing paperless compliances by the Companies after considering sections 2, 4, 5, and 81 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 for legal validity of compliances under Companies Act, 1956 through electronic mode.

The Registrar of Companies has to issue a number of certificates to the companies and other stakeholders as required under the provisions of Companies Act, 1956 read with Companies Regulation, 1956. As per Companies Regulation 24 of Companies Regulation, 1956 every certificate or copy granted under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 shall be signed and dated by Registrar and shall bear his official seal. At present these certificates are issued physically under the manual signature of Registrar of Companies and issued by post.

In order to cut timelines and an another step towards “Green Initiative” it has been decided that all certificates and standard letters issued by the Registrar of Companies will now be issued electronically under the Digital Signature of the Registrar of Companies.

The Digital Certificates are being developed and will be available for issue by 30th June, 2011 in phased manner.

Yours faithfully,

(Monika Gupta) Assistant Director

Copy to: All concerned