We file affidavit attested by Notary or Oath Commissioner. Generally it is believed that we file Affidavits to support our statement contained in Affidavit. By filing Affidavit, it is presumed that our statement becomes strong. But is it really so. In this Article we have examined the importance of filing and consequences if non filing of Affidavits and the Abolition of Affidavits.
WHAT IS AN AFFIDAVIT?
Affidavit is defined as a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by a person under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law.
Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of that person’s signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public or commissioner of oaths.
DEFINITION OF AFFIDAVITS UNDER THE GENERAL CLAUSES ACT,
‘Affidavit’ shall include affirmation ‘and declaration in the case of persons by law allowed to affirm or declare instead of swearing.
WHY DO WE FILE AN AFFIDAVIT
Affidavits came from the origin of colonial concept of distrust where it was felt necessary by the British Rule that the citizens give in writing so as to guarantee their word. Affidavit if filed to prove our undertaking as it can be seen that the Government lacks trust in citizens and don’t believe in whatever they say. Affidavits are very common and are filed almost in our daily lives It has been assumed and presumed that whatever assertion is stated by a citizen by way of an affidavit, can be believed to be true and necessary action can be taken against
DO WE REALLY NEED AFFIDAVITS?
Affidavits impose their own cost on the citizens on buying stamp paper, locating a deed writer, payment to the Notary for attestation and, of course, the time and efforts consumed in these processes. On the other hand, affidavits have no particular sanctity in law and the same function can be easily performed by declarations.
As per report of PGRC, in Punjab alone, it is estimated that at least half the households file affidavits annually for one service or the other. Extrapolating this figure to India, the total number may be more than 20 crore citizens/affidavits and assuming a cost of Rs.400/- per affidavit (one day wages plus stamps, fees and charges), the total expenses incurred by the citizens in India could well be to the extent of Rs.8,000 crores approximately.
Affidavits, therefore, need to be replaced by Self-Declarations for all services in the public utilities/agencies. Affidavit is a declaration, and such, a declaration in itself is adequate for the purposes of law.
Attestation by the officials, thus, does not appear to be necessary. The applicant/signatory continues to be responsible for the statement made. An advantage that the public agencies have is that they can also impose penal liability for making wrong statements in terms of suspension of the services (suspension of ration card facilities, disconnection of power supply etc.). Some 3 of the Central Government agencies (passport, income tax etc.) have already adopted this practice.
LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS IN ABOLITION OF AFFIDAVITS
There appears to be no legal problem in adopting this practice. The Indian Penal Code contains a number of Sections such as 177, 193, 197, 198, 199 and 200. These Sections specifically deal with the implications of any false information/evidence/disclosure/ declaration made by the deponents and, any such instances have been included to be subjected to the imposition of penalties, fines, registration of criminal cases and even imprisonment.
In Punjab alone, it is estimated that at least half the households file affidavits annually for one service or the other. Extrapolating this figure to India, the total number may be more than 20 crore citizens/affidavits and assuming a cost of Rs.400/- per affidavit (one day wages plus stamps, fees and charges), the total expenses incurred by the citizens in India could well be to the extent of Rs.8,000 crores approximately.
Affidavits, therefore, need to be replaced by Self-Declarations for all services in the public utilities/agencies. Affidavit is a declaration, and such, a declaration in itself is adequate for the purposes of law.
Attestation by the officials, thus, does not appear to be necessary. The applicant/signatory continues to be responsible for the statement made. An advantage that the public agencies have is that they can also impose penal liability for making wrong statements in terms of suspension of the services (suspension of ration card facilities, disconnection of power supply etc.).
ABOLITION OF AFFIDAVITS IN PUNJAB
The government of Punjab established the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission (PGRC) which recommended for Abolition of Affidavits for getting various government services, wherever these were not required under the statutory provisions.By abolishing this practice of seeking affidavits from the citizens, government has achieved the prime objective of trusting the citizens and their self- declarations as well as saving precious time and money relating to the preparation and submitting of affidavits.
In Punjab, one’s personal details and income are as good as one declares them to be. The state has been moving towards cutting down on affidavits, with an Aadhar card rather than a village lambardar certifying one’s residence. Senior government officers seeking travel allowance no longer required testifying through affidavits that their tour bills are correct.
According to data compiled by the Department of Governance Reforms, Punjab in 2009-10 saw 14.88 lakh affidavits filed at these kendras. After the government decided self-declarations would be enough for several services — a list that is now over 100 — the number of affidavits fell to 1.1 lakh in 2011-12.
That amounts to an annual saving of Rs 600 crore for the people, the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission has worked out.
Other than the 10 or 11 services for which an affidavit is mandatory under state and central laws, such as getting a passport or an arms licence, Punjab has done away with all affidavits that were “local inventions”.
Why should a gazette officer be more honest than a citizen?”. “So the first step towards bridging the trust deficit between the government and the citizen was to get rid of the affidavits not required by law. If a person gives a false self-declaration, he is liable to face action under Section 200 of the IPC, the same as for giving a wrong affidavit.”
Current Status
Complaints of government institutions and departments demanding affidavits are, however, still coming up. There is still lack of awareness among general public about filing of Affidavits. An endeavor is made through this Article to educate the General Public about abolition of filing Affidavits in State Of Punjab. Recently Prime Minister, Shri Narendera Modi has encouraged Government of taking self declaration in lieu of Affidavits which goes on a long way to build trust between citizens and the government. So Citizens Just wake up, & check relevant rules of your respective states in filing affidavits and just get rid of this practice.