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Stamp Papers Shortage Hits Public Again

Sentinel Digital Desk

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Capital is once again faced with severe shortage of revenue stamp papers of particularly low-denomination causing immense inconveniences and sufferings for the people to execute various legal tasks.

There has been an acute shortage of stamp papers of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50 for the past few weeks forcing people to purchase revenue stamps of high-denominations for various legal purposes.

Low-denomination stamp papers are required for rent agreement, birth and death certificates, and water, power and gas connections. They require stamp papers of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50, and in their absence, the public are forced to buy stamp papers of higher denomination.

“We are often at the receiving end of public ire for the shortage of low-denomination stamp papers. We get occasional supply of these papers in small lots which get sold out like hot cakes,” a stamp vendor near the office of deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) said.

In August this year, the Lawyers’ Association, Guwahati staged a protest in protest against frequent shortage of stamp papers and submitted a memorandum to DC of Kamrup (Metro) demanding an early solution to the issue. There were adequate numbers of stamp papers after the Lawyers’ Association’s protest. But the shortage has once again surfaced this month.

Even though the government is urging the people to shift to e-stamping, the people still prefer traditional stamp papers.