#Wet signature meaning verification

Negotiable instruments like cheques, bank drafts, etc.,.ETA has listed the following documents which cannot be executed by digital means: Though digital signature is widely used, states exclude the use of digital signature in some sort of documents depending upon the sensitivity and enhanced risk associated with their execution. The Office of Controller of Certificate (the “OCC”) (has the list of recognised Certification Authority having the power to issue certified digital signatures in Nepal. Only those digital signatures issued by the Certification Authority shall be considered as Digital Signature. An asymmetric Crypto System means a system that creates a secured key pair consisting of a private key creating a digital signature and a public key to verify the digital signature.ĮTA only permits and validates the use of the certified digital signature which is subject to issuance by a licensed and recognised Certification Authority. The authentication of an electronic record to other electronic records shall have to be affected by the use of (i) asymmetric cryptosystem, and (ii) hash function.

#Wet signature meaning verification

The verification of digital signature relies mainly upon two conditions as provided by ETR: (a) such digital signature corresponds to the digital signature with the public key and (b) hash result extracted by means of public key and the original hash result of the digital signature used in the electronic record are identical. Electronic Form has been further defined as data, record, image, or sound transmitted, received, or stored in an electronic form by generating the same through any means.ĮTA accords digital signature and documents executed with digital signature identical validity as documents which are traditionally signed through hand signatures (wet signatures). ETA has defined it as a signature made in any electronic form to be included in the transformation of an electronic record by using a type of asymmetric cryptosystem. However, it is important to understand how Nepal’s law treats digital signature. Surprisingly, though the provision regarding digital signature has been adapted more than a decade ago, there has not been significant use of digital signatures in Nepal. In this article, I have outlined briefly the legal provisions of digital signatures in Nepal.Įlectronic Transaction Act 2006 (2063) (the ‘ETA’) Electronic Transaction Rules 2007 (2064) (the ‘ETR’) is the primary legislation dealing with the use and validation of digital signatures. And one among them is the requirement of authorised signatures on commercial documents. This has challenged the overall functioning of businesses. With general movement and life restricted in the country due to Covid 19 and subsequent lockdowns, more and more people and the corporate culture is gearing towards work from home.