Affidavit for Lost Documents in Siliguri
This affidavit says which paper you have lost, when you last had it, and that you have not pledged it. The Hill Cart Road notary can attest it if you appear and identify yourself. The office that issued the paper decides whether to give a duplicate.
What a loss affidavit is for
A board, a transport office, a bank or a society asks for a sworn note when an original marksheet, licence, share certificate or agreement cannot be produced. The note explains the loss. It does not recreate the lost paper.
In Siliguri this often comes up before a college admission, a vehicle transfer, or a bank locker claim.
The legal shape of the paper
You are making a statement on oath under the Indian Oaths Act, 1969, attested under the Notaries Act, 1952. If the lost paper was itself a stamped instrument, replacing it may also need stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. Notarisation at this chamber starts at Rupees 100. Stamp paper, when your paper needs it, is extra and follows the West Bengal rate in force that week. Send the details on WhatsApp and we'll reply with the exact cost. The stamp depends on the paper in front of you.
Many counters also ask for a general diary entry or an FIR. That is their practice, and it is wise when the paper could be misused. It is not the same document as the affidavit. A false statement that a paper is lost, when you have it, can be used against you.
What to carry
Bring anything that identifies the lost paper, not only your own identity card.
For a certificate or marksheet
- Your photo identity
- A photocopy or roll number, if any copy survived
- The board or university name and the year
- Any diary entry you already made
For a financial paper
- The folio, account or certificate number if you remember it
- Identity of the holder
- A letter from the bank or company, if they wrote one
- Do not sign a bond you have not read
Which case is yours?
Find the row that matches your papers. The first step is yours. The last column is the office that still has to accept the paper.
| Your situation | What you do first | Who else is involved |
|---|---|---|
| A marksheet or degree is missing | Bring identity, any surviving photocopy, and the roll number if you know it | The board or university that issues duplicates |
| A licence or financial paper is missing | Bring the number if you remember it, and any letter from the bank or office | The transport office, bank, or company that asked for the affidavit |
| You later find the original | Tell the office that took the affidavit and do not use two originals | The same issuer |
First 24 hours
Name the missing paper, the year it was issued, and where you last had it. If the counter asked for a police diary, keep that entry with you.
You swear that you have not pledged the paper, if that is true. The affidavit does not become a duplicate marksheet, licence, or certificate. The issuer decides that.
Steps we follow
Come in person to the PNB building chamber on Hill Cart Road.
- Describe the loss plainly We write what was lost, where you think it was lost, and that you will return it to the issuer if it is found.
- Match your identity The notary checks the person swearing. A friend cannot swear that your certificate is lost.
- Separate the next step If they also want an indemnity bond, that is a second paper. We will say so before you leave.
When you know which row matches your papers, call or send them on WhatsApp.
Risks
Swearing that a document is lost when it is only at home, or when you have pledged it, is dangerous. If the paper later appears in a loan or a sale, the affidavit is the first thing a court will read. Also, a photocopy that you call an original will not pass a true-copy check.
Your affidavit should not say the department must issue a duplicate. That decision belongs to the office that issued the paper.
Limits
The affidavit does not cancel a lost cheque, share certificate or licence. The bank, the company or the transport office does that under its rules. There is no single time limit in the Notaries Act for this affidavit, but a board's duplicate window can close. If a police case is already open about the loss, bring that number.
Why a checked draft is safer
A vague line such as 'I lost my documents' is sent back. The counter wants the name of the paper, the year, and a promise about misuse. Writing that once, on the right stamp, saves a second visit. Send the details on WhatsApp and we'll reply with the exact cost and say which paper is missing.
The feeling people bring
Losing a marksheet or a father's share certificate feels like losing the record of a life. The affidavit will not scold you. It will also not pretend the paper still exists. Tell us if you have already searched the house, and if anyone else might be using the document.
How the chamber helps
We prepare the loss statement. The issuer still decides on a duplicate.
- Name the lost paper and the year it was issued
- Record that you have not sold or pledged it, if that is true
- Attest the affidavit at Hill Cart Road
- Point out if an indemnity bond is a separate request
- Tell you to send the details on WhatsApp and we'll reply with the exact cost
Questions people ask
How much does a lost document affidavit cost?
Notarisation at this chamber starts at Rupees 100. Stamp paper, when your paper needs it, is extra and follows the West Bengal rate in force that week. Send the details on WhatsApp and we'll reply with the exact cost.
How soon can it be done?
Often in one visit if you can name the paper and bring identity. A duplicate from the board or the RTO takes longer, and that time is theirs.
Is the affidavit a new marksheet?
No. Only the board or university can issue a duplicate marksheet.
Must I go to the police first?
Many offices ask for a diary entry. If your letter says so, do that before or along with the affidavit. If it does not, tell us what the letter actually says.
Can I swear for my son's lost certificate?
If he is a minor, a parent may swear. If he is an adult, he should come, unless the issuer's form names the parent.
What if I later find the paper?
The affidavit should say you will inform the office and not use two originals. Finding it does not make the earlier statement a crime if it was honest when you swore.
Do you keep a copy?
Ask at the chamber. Do not assume a copy left on a counter is your record. Keep your own.
Talk to the office
Bring the papers you have. Notarisation at this chamber starts at Rupees 100. Stamp paper, when your paper needs it, is extra and follows the West Bengal rate in force that week. Send the details on WhatsApp and we'll reply with the exact cost.
This page is general information for people in Siliguri and North Bengal. It is not legal advice for your papers. Rules, stamp requirements and office practice change. Call the chamber before you rely on it.