Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924

Authentication of official documents.

15.—(1) The seal of each Minister who is a head of a Department of State established under this Act shall, when affixed to any instrument or document, be authenticated by the signature of such Minister, or of some person authorised by that Minister to act in that behalf.

(2) Every document purporting to be an order or other instrument issued by a Minister who is the head of a Department of State established by this Act, and to be sealed with the seal of such Minister authenticated in manner aforesaid, or to be signed by such Minister, shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such order or instrument without further proof, unless the contrary is shown.

(3) A certificate signed by a Minister that any order or other instrument purporting to be made or issued by such Minister, or by the Department of State for the time being assigned to him, or by any branch or officer thereof, is so made or issued, shall be conclusive evidence of the fact so certified.

(4) Nothing in this Act shall render the affixing of the official seal of a Minister who is the head of a Department of State established by this Act to any order or other instrument (not being a deed, conveyance or other instrument which if made by a person other than a corporation would be required by law to be sealed with the seal of such person) made by such Minister necessary to the validity of such order or other instrument, and any such order or other instrument, unless expressly required by any statute to be under seal, shall be sufficiently authenticated by the signature of such Minister or of the secretary or other officer of such Department of State duly authorised by such Minister to authenticate such orders and instruments.