Presidential Seal Act, 1937

Custody, use, and authentication.

3.—(1) Until the first President enters upon his office the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

(a) the Commission exercising, by virtue of Article 57 of the Constitution, the powers and functions of the President shall have the custody and control of the presidential seal;

(b) the presidential seal shall be affixed to instruments made by the said Commission, and to no other instruments, and shall be so affixed by direction of the said Commission and not otherwise;

(c) the presidential seal when affixed to an instrument under this section shall be authenticated by the signatures (affixed to such instrument) of at least two members of the said Commission and of the secretary or other officer of the said Commission authorised in that behalf by the said Commission.

(2) Whenever and so long as there is an elected President in office, exercising and performing the powers and functions of his office, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

(a) the President shall have the custody and control of the presidential seal;

(b) the presidential seal shall be affixed to instruments made by the President, and to no other instruments, and shall be so affixed by direction of the President and not otherwise;

(c) the presidential seal when affixed to an instrument under this section shall be authenticated by the signature (affixed to such instrument) of the President.

(3) Whenever and so long as a Commission constituted under Article 14 of the Constitution is exercising and performing the powers and functions of the President in accordance with that Article, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—

(a) the said Commission shall have the custody and control of the presidential seal;

(b) the presidential seal shall be affixed to instruments made by the said Commission, and to no other instruments, and shall be so affixed by direction of the said Commission and not otherwise;

(c) the presidential seal when affixed to an instrument under this section shall be authenticated by the signatures (affixed to such instrument) of at least two members of the said Commission and of the secretary or other officer of the said Commission authorised in that behalf by the said Commission.