High Court of Madras
Chennai: The High Court of Madras has issued a fresh circular easing earlier restrictions on the attestation of documents by judicial officers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The move comes in response to multiple representations from members of the legal community.
According to the circular the High Court has partially relaxed its earlier directive dated June 20, 2023. The relaxation specifically allows judicial officers to attest documents required for notary applications, addressing practical difficulties faced by advocates and applicants during registration on the notary portal.
The decision follows representations submitted on March 17, 2026, by G Mohana Krishnan, former President of the Madras High Court Advocates Association, and on March 18, 2026, by the Women Lawyers' Association. Both highlighted the challenges in completing notary registration formalities without magistrate attestation.
The High Court clarified that this relaxation is limited strictly to notary-related applications and does not extend to other forms of document attestation. Judicial officers have been instructed to adhere to the revised direction without deviation.
Legal experts have welcomed the move, noting that it balances procedural efficiency with regulatory safeguards.
