Hartmut Paul Balke 26 December 2023

Self signed share certificate

The previous Secretary of our co-op housing society has signed (together with the chairman) her share certificate.

Is it legally valid?

Quick Summary

This discussion addresses the validity of a self-signed share certificate issued by a previous secretary of a co-op housing society. While an authorised signatory signing their own certificate in an official capacity is generally considered legally valid, it's crucial that the committee was in power at the time of issuance. If the committee had been superseded, the previous secretary would lack the authority to issue a valid certificate.

6 Replies

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate) 26 December 2023

The signature in the capacity of the authorised signatory/secretary is very much valid.

Dr. J C Vashista (Advocate ) 27 December 2023

Since the MC is stated to have been superseeded by new MC accordingly new Secretary has been substituted by a newly elected Secretary, therefore, previous Secretary has "no" authority to issue Share Certificate, hence it is illegal and invalid.

Hartmut Paul Balke 27 December 2023

Sorry for the misunderstanding, but the share certificate was issued when the previous committee was in power.

Dr. J C Vashista (Advocate ) 28 December 2023

It is valid if the share certificate was signed by Secretary of MC when it was still continuing.

Hartmut Paul Balke 28 December 2023

It is strange that one is allowed to sign his/her own legally valid documents to show the right of possession.

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate) 28 December 2023

It is not strange but a legally valid act

Understand the concept that an authorised signatory is exercising it's authority by signing the certificate in its official capacity, even though the recepient is the same person.

There's no legal infirmity in this act.