The Gujarat state legal department announced on Monday the introduction of a standardised 'universal affidavit' format for availing public services across the state. According to an official statement, this universal affidavit will be applicable in cases where no specific format is required.
Addressing Citizen Difficulties
The legal department has introduced this universal affidavit format to eliminate the difficulties faced by citizens in obtaining various types of affidavits with differing texts for government services. The government stated that the move aims to simplify administrative processes and reduce complexity.
'From now on, when an affidavit is required by law or regulation but no specific format is determined, this single, uniform format will be recognised across the state,' read a statement issued by the government.
Previous Challenges
Until now, applicants had to submit various types of affidavits to avail different services, certificates, or schemes provided by different departments of the state government. This diversity in documents led to unnecessary complexity, wasted time for the general public, and delays in administrative processes, the statement noted.
Mandatory Acceptance
The universal affidavit will be mandatorily accepted by all government offices, service centres, and authorities operating at district, taluka, rural, and urban levels. It will also be implemented uniformly on the Digital Gujarat portal and all public service centres, providing convenience to online applicants.
Self-Declaration Continuation
The government clarified that for services where there is no legal requirement for an affidavit, the process of 'self-declaration' will continue as per the resolution of the general administration department. This ensures that the new format does not disrupt existing streamlined processes.
This initiative is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve efficiency in accessing public services across Gujarat.
