Chapter VII — ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE CERTIFICATES

Section 38Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate

Section 38: Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate

38. Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate

(1)

A Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate issued by it—

(a)

where the subscriber or any other person authorised by him makes a request to that effect; or

(b)

upon the death of the subscriber; or

(c)

upon the dissolution of the firm or winding up of the company where the subscriber is a firm or a company.

(2)

Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) and without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), a Certifying Authority may revoke a Digital Signature Certificate which has been issued by it at any time, if it is of opinion that—

(a)

a material fact represented in the Digital Signature Certificate is false or has been concealed;

(b)

a requirement for issuance of the Digital Signature Certificate was not satisfied;

(c)

the Certifying Authority's private key or security system was compromised in a manner materially affecting the Digital Signature Certificate's reliability;

(d)

the subscriber has been declared insolvent or dead or where a subscriber is a firm or a company, which has been dissolved, wound-up or otherwise ceased to exist.

(3)

A Digital Signature Certificate shall not be revoked unless the subscriber has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.

(4)

On revocation of a Digital Signature Certificate under this section, the Certifying Authority shall communicate the same to the subscriber.