For example, if a husband is a Gazetted Officer, his wife should get her documents attested by a colleague of her husband or any other government official of appropriate rank who is not a relative.
To avoid any confusion or disputes, it is recommended that gazetted officers follow best practices when attesting documents of family members. These include:
Some departments or receiving organizations may have internal policies that do not approve attestations by close relatives (such as parents) to maintain impartial verification. For example, if a husband is a Gazetted
While technically legal, attesting a relative's papers often leads to practical issues: Suspicion of Bias:
Self-attestation is legally valid for most documents in India, especially for government job applications, educational admissions, and various certificates. However, it's always wise to check the specific requirements of the authority or organization you are dealing with. While technically legal, attesting a relative's papers often
: For most government applications today, self-attestation is sufficient, making third-party attestation by a gazetted officer unnecessary in many cases. Best Practices
While there is no single law that slaps a fine or sends you to jail solely for attesting your wife’s or father’s documents, it is considered a serious professional impropriety and conflict of interest. Government rules, banking regulations, and administrative guidelines almost universally forbid or strongly discourage it. Best Practices While there is no single law
Only active officers can perform these duties; retired Gazetted Officers must surrender their official seals and lose their attestation authority upon retirement. The Shift Toward Self-Attestation