An electronic signature certificate is an electronic document that binds an identity to an electronic signature. It is used to verify the authenticity and validity of an electronic signature. It is issued by a certification authority and contains the signer's public key, name, and other identifying information. Electronic signatures are becoming more widely used as a secure and convenient way to digitally sign documents. Section 2(tb) Defines Electronics Signature Certificate According to Said Section of Information Technology Act 2000 “Electronic Signature Certificate” means an Electronic Signature Certificate issued under section 35 and includes Digital Signature Certificate.
Certifying authority to issue electronic signature Certificate (Section 35 of IT Act 2000 )–
(1) Any person may make an application to the Certifying Authority for the issue of an electronic signature Certificate in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
(2) Every such application shall be accompanied by such fee not exceeding twenty-five thousand
rupees as may be prescribed by the Central Government, to be paid to the Certifying Authority:
Provided that while prescribing fees under sub-section (2) different fees may be prescribed for
different classes of applicants.
(3) Every such application shall be accompanied by a certification practice statement or where there is
no such statement, a statement containing such particulars, as may be specified by regulations.
(4) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Certifying Authority may, after
consideration of the certification practice statement or the other statement under sub-section (3) and after making such enquiries as it may deem fit, grant the electronic signature Certificate or for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject the application:
Provided that no application shall be rejected unless the applicant has been given a reasonable
the opportunity of showing cause against the proposed rejection.
Representations upon issuance of Digital Signature Certificate (Section 36 of IT Act 2000 ) –
A Certifying Authority while issuing a Digital Signature Certificate shall certify that –
(a) it has complied with the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder;
(b) it has published the Digital Signature Certificate or otherwise made it available to such person
relying on it and the subscriber has accepted it;
(c) the subscriber holds the private key corresponding to the public key, listed in the Digital
Signature Certificate;
(ca) the subscriber holds a private key that is capable of creating a digital signature;
(cb) the public key to be listed in the certificate can be used to verify a digital signature affixed by
the private key held by the subscriber;
(d) the subscriber's public key and private key constitute a functioning key pair;
(e) the information contained in the Digital Signature Certificate is accurate; and
(f) it has no knowledge of any material fact, which if it had been included in the Digital Signature Certificate would adversely affect the reliability of the representations in clauses (a) to (d).
Suspension of Digital Signature Certificate (Section 37 of IT Act 2000) –
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the Certifying Authority that has issued a Digital Signature Certificate may suspend such Digital Signature Certificate, –
(a) on receipt of a request to that effect from–
(i) the subscriber listed in the Digital Signature Certificate; or
(ii) any person duly authorized to act on behalf of that subscriber;
(b) if it is of opinion that the Digital Signature Certificate should be suspended in public interest.
(2) A Digital Signature Certificate shall not be suspended for a period exceeding fifteen days unless
the subscriber has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(3) On suspension of a Digital Signature Certificate under this section, the Certifying Authority shall
communicate the same to the subscriber.
Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate (Section 38 of IT Act 2000) –
(1) A Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate issued by it –
(a) where the subscriber or any other person authorized by him makes a request to that effect; or
(b) upon the death of the subscriber; or
(c) upon the dissolution of the firm or winding up of the company where the subscriber is a firm
or a company.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) and without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section
(1), a Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate that has been issued by it at any
time, if it is of opinion that–
(a) a material fact represented in the Digital Signature Certificate is false or has been concealed;
(b) a requirement for issuance of the Digital Signature Certificate was not satisfied;
(c) the Certifying Authority's private key or security system was compromised in a manner
materially affecting the Digital Signature Certificate's reliability;
(d) the subscriber has been declared insolvent or dead or where a subscriber is a firm or a
company, which has been dissolved, wound-up or otherwise ceased to exist.
(3) A Digital Signature Certificate shall not be revoked unless the subscriber has been given an
opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(4) On revocation of a Digital Signature Certificate under this section, the Certifying Authority shall
communicate the same to the subscriber.
Notice of suspension or revocation (Section 39 of IT Act 2000) –
(1) Where a Digital Signature Certificate is suspended or revoked under section 37 or section 38, the Certifying Authority shall publish a notice of such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, in the repository specified in the Digital Signature Certificate for publication of such notice.
(2) Where one or more repositories are specified, the Certifying Authority shall publish notices of
such suspension or revocation, as the case may be, in all such repositories.
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