Counter Sign - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition counter-sign

Definition :

Counter-sign, the signature of a secretary or other subordinate officer to anywriting signed by the pricnipal or superior to vouch for the authenticity of it; e.g., the order of a towncouncil for payment of money out of the borough fund must be singed by three members of the town council,and counter-signed by the townclerk, by (English) Local Government Act, 1933 (23 & 24 Geo. 5, c. 51), s. 187, replacing (except as to London) Municipal Cor-porations Act, 1882, s. 141.Also the password in response to a military challenge by a sentinel or guard.

To 'countersign' means 'to sign opposite to along side of or in addition to another signature 'or' to add one's signature to a document (already signed by another) for authentication or confirmation', M. Duraiswamy v. Murugan Bus Service, 1986 Supp SCC 1: AIR 1986 SC 1980 (1989). [Motor Vehicles Act, (4 of 1939), s. 63(1)]