PIL filed before the HC for non availability of non judicial stamps and judicial stamps
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 14 2017:
The High Court of Manipur has directed the Chief Secretary of the State as well as three other State Government respondents for the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation regarding the non availability of non judicial stamps and judicial stamps .
The PIL was filed before the High Court of Manipur by former president of the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), Advocate Athokpam Indrakumar through his counsel, Advocate A Jagjit, a few days back regarding the scarcity or non availability of non judicial stamps, Court fees papers/documents in the license stamp, which are causing immense inconveniences to the public at large and is not only affecting the Judiciary system but also other areas which require the said items .
The PIL was listed yesterday before the Division Bench, High Court of Manipur, comprising of Acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin Singh .
The Court heard the submission of the petitioner counsel and issued notice returnable to the respondents of the Government, the Chief Secretary, Commissioner/ Secretary (Finance), the Commissioner / Secretary (Revenue) and the Director of Treasury .
Advocate P Tamphamnai, counsel assisting N Kumarjit, Advocate General, High Court of Manipur, accepted the notice on behalf of the State respondents .
Highlighting the PIL filed before the Court, Advocate A Jagjit stated that the main purpose of filing the PIL is related to the prolonged scarcity of non judicial stamps and judicial stamps (Court stamp fees) in the State and prior to the filing of the PIL, repeated requests have been made to various section of the public including the Bar Association, public individuals and litigants .
However the authority concerned remained adamant and failed to supply adequate quantity of the said items .
He also stated that although non judicial stamps are not available with the licensed vendors, the same are readily available with the street vendors, shops and Oath Commissioners who are teeming around Uripok Cheirap Court complex without any control or authority .
He also stated that it is quite surprising that the non judicial stamps of Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 50 denominations are sold at the rate of Rs 140 at the said areas around the Court complex .
They inquired the authority concerned regarding the issue but no satisfactory explanation has been given till date and the scarcity of the non judicial stamps and judicial stamps has been lingering for the past four to five years .
The PIL has been filed before the High Court of Manipur in the interest of the general public and the litigants of the State as there are no other alternatives, he said.