Information Technology Act Section 5 — Legal recognition of 1[electronic signatures]
CHAPTER III ELECTRONIC GOVERNANCE
Cyber Law
Summary
Where any law requires information or any other matter to be authenticated by a signature, or requires a document to be signed or bear a person's signature, that requirement is considered to be met if the information or matter is authenticated using an electronic signature. This applies regardless of what that other law says, but the electronic signature must be affixed in the manner prescribed by the Central Government.
The explanation clarifies that the word "signed" and its related forms mean, with reference to a person, the affixing of that person's handwritten signature or any mark on a document. The word "signature" is to be understood in the same way.
Official Text
Where any law provides that information or any other matter shall be authenticated by affixing the signature or any document shall be signed or bear the signature of any person, then, notwithstanding anything contained in such law, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied, if such information or matter is authenticated by means of 1[electronic signature] affixed in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
Explanation.–For the purposes of this section, ―signed‖, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, shall, with reference to a person, mean affixing of his hand written signature or any mark on any document and the expression ―signature‖ shall be construed accordingly.