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Section 5: Legal recognition of electronic signatures
Legal recognition of electronic signatures.–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 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.
Source: official text of The Information Technology Act, 2000 as published on India Code (PDF). All sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000.