By Kanu Sarda, IANS
New Delhi : Fraudulent signatures will soon be history with the judiciary in Delhi deciding to use digital signatures – a personalised electronic signature that is virtually impossible to forge.
Digital signatures, different from a scanned signature of a person, are computer algorithms that cannot be reproduced by anyone other than the person himself. The technology is said to be foolproof, having been tried and tested successfully at several places in the world.
The concept of digital signatures was floated a few years ago when discussions were on about the computerisation of courts. However, not much headway has been made on it.
The concept regained momentum when Sher Singh Rana, the convicted killer of Uttar Pradesh’s dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, fled from the Tihar Jail using the fraudulent signature of a judge.
“Taking a cue from Rana’s escape, we learnt a lesson and thought of adopting a technology which is not only fast but authentic too. So the concept of digital signature came in our mind,” said a judicial officer.
According to a security expert, “Signatures of the person are digitally encrypted on computers using a special technique. Then the computer generates the signature only when a specific password is entered, making the complete process very safe.”
At present, five judicial officers in various district courts and 25 judges of the Supreme Court are using digital signatures.
So far, it has proved very successful.
“Another important feature of the new technology would be that the order of the judgement could be sent directly to Tihar Jail via email, which would reduce the risk of fraudulent papers reaching the jail,” the security expert added.
“The email will reach first followed by the papers. So, that officials can crosscheck and verify the orders,” the expert said, and added, “Consequently, cases like that of Sher Singh Rana would not recur.”
“Not only would this particular technology result in increased safety, it would also reduce red tape, which is common in the working style of the courts,” said a judicial officer presently using the technology.
In India, six companies, including the state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), provide the technology.
“Digital signatures are another step towards the complete computerisation of courts after introduction of e-filing, online connectivity between court complexes, digitalisation of disposed records, interactive voice response system, and e-court,” the judicial officer added.