The Registry of Orissa High Court has asked all District Judges of the State to recommend necessary action against the notaries public, who are engaged in illegal activities of issuing marriage and divorce certificates to applicants.
“The District and Sessions Judges were issued such an advisory following an order from the High Court last month,” informed a source in the High Court registry here on Wednesday.
While adjudicating a bail application of an accused, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo came to know that the Notaries Public are not only registering marriages and issuing marriage certificates but also issuing divorce certificates on mutual consent of the parties which are totally “illegal” and “unwarranted”.
“Such activities of the Notary Public are creating tremendous embarrassment to the innocent public, who are unaware about the sanctity of such documents,” observed Justice Sahoo, directing the High Court Registry to intimate about it to the District Judge and other subordinate courts.
The High Court has also asked the State law Secretary to take remedial steps and submit a report to the court within four weeks regarding the action taken against the Notaries Public, who are engaged in such activities. Similarly, the State police have been asked to keep track on such activities and take action against the erring Notaries Public in accordance with law.
Notary is a person appointed either by the Central Government or the State Government under the Notaries Act of 1952 as a public officer only to verify, authenticate, certify or attest the execution of any instrument (document). The State law Department has time and again intimated the Notaries not to issue marriage certificates or divorce certificates.