Non-judicial stamps thrive in black
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 16 2013:
Even though there is Government regulation for granting permission to of selling non-judicial stamp papers through license vendors only, there are reports of many people selling the stamp papers at higher rate in black market in Manipur.
Unfortunately, the concerned department and authorities are turning a blind eye over the matter, which is nothing short of daylight robbery.
According to an official of the state government, Revenue Department provides vendor licence for selling non-judicial stamps and there are only 13 licensed vendors in Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts.
The offices which are licensed to sell the non-judicial stamps are Sub-Registrar, Imphal East; Sub Registrar (Head Quarter), Imphal West; Sub Registrar, Thoubal; Sub Registrar, Imphal West; SDO Keirao Bitra; SDO Wangoi; Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West; Sub Registrar, Kakching and Sub Registrar, Porompat.
Ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 5000, the Non-judicial stamps are printed in Central Government Press, Nasik and are stored at the Head Treasury Office in Imphal.
Licensed Vendors should deposit the required amount to get the stamps from the Treasury Office.
Revenue Department is to look after the selling of non judicial stamps by these licensed vendors.
A licensed vendor gets a profit of Rs 2 from selling a Rs 10 Non-judicial stamp paper while the remaining Rs 8 goes to the coffer of the government.
However, the percentage of profit varies according to the stamp value.
On the other hand, some people are selling non-judicial stamps in front of Uripok Cheirap Court illegally at a much higher price.
While non-judicial stamps with a value of Rs 10 are found being sold at Rs 40, it was learnt that most of the non-judicial stamp papers are sold at double the rate of their normal value.
Non-judicial stamp papers are inseparable for many people in the state since they are used in sales deeds or affidavits for various purposes.
Even though the stamps are sold at a much higher rate, people are compelled to buy them knowingly since the government is not paying any attention into the matter and the people have nowhere to go to buy the stamp papers other than from these black marketers.