Scarcity of non-judicial stamp papers in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: An artificial scarcity of non-judicial stamp papers in the state burns holes in the pockets of people who have to buy such papers at exorbitant rates.

The State Government has started the use of e-stamp papers for some services. However, hard copies of non-judicial stamp papers are a must for a few services like the power of attorney, agreement deeds, affidavits, making declarations, executing different types of bonds etc. When people need non-judicial stamp papers, some vendors sell them at higher prices, taking advantage of the artificial scarcity.

This reporter met a person in the CJM (Chief Judicial Magistrate) Court in the Kamrup (M) district. The person had to buy stamp paper worth Rs 100 at a higher price of Rs 140. He said he had no way out but to buy at higher prices as stamp papers are scarce. When this reporter asked a vendor on the court premises the reason behind charging higher prices, he said they also have to buy stamp papers at higher prices. The vendor refused to name the person from whom he buys stamp papers at higher rates.

This situation is not in the Kamrup Metro district alone. The scene of non-judicial stamp papers is more or less the same all over the state.

The revenue department supplies stamp papers to the registered vendors through the treasuries under some terms and conditions. Of late, the State government has laid thrust on the e-stamping system. In almost all land-related works, the legal fraternity uses e-stamping.

This reporter talked to a few lawyers on the court premises. They said they had urged the government several times to solve the artificial scarcity of non-judicial stamp papers and their black marketing. "However, the problem is not yet solved. The common people have to buy such papers at higher prices. The government also needs to increase the number of e-stamp paper counters," a lawyer said.

The moot question is: when a section of registered vendors does not get stamp papers as their requirement, how come non-registered vendors get stamp papers to sell in the black market?

The situation comes to such a pass that a person needing stamp papers worth Rs 10 or Rs 20 has to buy stamp papers of higher denominations, like Rs 50, due to the scarcity.

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