Control of private key
Section 42 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deals with control of private key. Every subscriber shall exercise reasonable care to retain control of the private key corresponding to the public key listed in his Digital Signature Certificate and take all steps to prevent its disclosure (2) If the private key corresponding to the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certifi The Act came into force on 17 Oct 2000.
(1) Every subscriber shall exercise reasonable care to retain control of the private key corresponding to the public key listed in his Digital Signature Certificate and take all steps to prevent its disclosure 1 ***
(2) If the private key corresponding to the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certificate has been compromised, then, the subscriber shall communicate the same without any delay to the Certifying Authority in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.
Explanation.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the subscriber shall be liable till he has informed the Certifying Authority that the private key has been compromised.
Section 42, The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Act 21 of 2000).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 42
What does Section 42 of the Information Technology Act deal with?
Section 42 of the Information Technology Act is headed "Control of private key". Every subscriber shall exercise reasonable care to retain control of the private key corresponding to the public key listed in his Digital Signature Certificate and take all steps to prevent its disclosure (2) If the private key corresponding to the public key listed in the Digital Signature Certifi
How do I find court cases under Section 42 of the Information Technology Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: IT Act 42, section 42 IT Act, section 42 of the Information Technology Act. People searching for it also type income tax act section 42. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 42 of the Information Technology Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently Notification no. S. O.1015(E) dated 19.9.2002 regarding Information Technology (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2002 (2002).
When did Section 42 of the Information Technology Act come into force?
Section 42 of the Information Technology Act, cited as IT Act 42, came into force on 17 Oct 2000, having been enacted on 09 Jun 2000. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1304 words
- 87. Power of Central Government to make rules877 words
- 43. Penalty and compensation for damage to computer, computer system, etc506 words
- 46. Power to adjudicate370 words
- 89. Power of Controller to make regulations345 words
- 70B. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team to serve as national agency for incident response326 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.