What is an E-Sign?

Anyone new to this area can easily get confused about what is an e-sign. Well, does anyone ever emailed you a document to sign? With the advancement of technology now you can sign a document without printing, scanning, or fax. Now you don’t have to run to get a pen, all you need to do is open the document, drop your signature and send it. It is much faster, easier and less expensive.

Today, you can even sign your legal documents electronically. You just need an internet connection and a free account with EasyAdvocacy. Then no matter where you are around the world, you can send your documents in no time. Apologies to your printer – it has just become a dust collector.

Read further to know what an e-sign is? What is the procedure involved in it? And how it is different from digital signature?

 

What is an e-sign?

An e-sign is a legal way to get consent or approval on electronic documents. As per section 2 (ta) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 “Electronic Signature means authentication of any electronic record by a subscriber by means of the electronic technique specified in the Second Schedule and includes digital signature”. An electronic signature can be used to replace handwritten signature in every personal or business process. For example, Government benefits enrollment forms, contracts, application forms and other legal documents.

 

Difference between Digital Signatures and Electronic Signatures

A digital signature is a type of electronic signature that arises from applying public key cryptography to ensure user authentication and contains additional functionality, to further provide message authentication. Thus a digital signature is distinguished as a species, of its genus the more generic, electronic signature, which is used to describe any form of electronic authentication.

Earlier the Act, only provided, digital signature, as the sole method of authentication. This excluded many forms of signatures which could be utilized in electronic commerce. Like electronic signatures derived through biometric technologies, where the private key is all but a person’s unique measurable biological characteristics such as fingerprint, voice pattern, iris pattern, face, retina or hand print. In this context, the earlier technology-specific approach seemed repugnant to the technological neutral objective of the IT Act. Therefore, through IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, section 3A was inserted, which provides various conditions, on the satisfaction of which any form of an electronic signature may be prescribed as a means to authenticate electronic records.

 

Conditions to be fulfilled by electronic signatures

Conditions which should be present in the technology to qualify as a valid electronic signature are:

1. That the signature to be produced should be unique and should be linked to the signatory.

2. There is a requirement of confidentiality, secrecy and sole control of the signatory over the signature.

3. Any changes to the electronic signature after such a signature is affixed should be detectable.

4. After affixing such a signature to the data, if there are changes in the data, then such changes should be detectable.

5. It should fulfil such other conditions which may be prescribed.

 

Procedure to e-sign a document

With EasyAdvocacy it’s trouble-free and straightforward to e-sign a document. The Technology we use tracks your official signature integrated through your Aadhar Card no., assuring the genuineness and legal acceptability of the document. You merely have to upload the document; you want to get signed, enter your recipient’s details and click send. EasyAdvocacy will then email the signers to get your document securely signed.

For more such exciting services at your doorstep, Sign-up to EasyAdvocacy today and make your life a lot easier.