The non-judicial papers commonly called stamp papers are passing their hard times in the district under monopoly of licenced vendors. The dearth of low-cost stamp papers has led the vendors to sell at double or triple prices. Resultantly, lawyers have no way out but to use plain paper and court-fee for affidavits, deeds and agreements of their clients.
Even in some cases, people are using revenue stamps for making their deeds and agreements beyond a rule.
While lawyers are complaining of a monopoly of vendors in sales, the vendors are pointing a finger at the district administration for dilly dallying in issuing the non-judicial papers sufficiently. All this is going on under the nose of higher officials.
Sources said that the e-stamp papers of all values are not convenient as common people have to fill up a prescribed format to get them. Even people have no idea of e-stamp papers and how to get them and from where. There is also an allegation of a nexus of vendors with officials to keep the people in dark on e-stamp for loss of their business.
Though the high-value papers above Rs 50 are available, the low cost papers below Rs 50 have suffered a complete disappearance at all the licenced vendors across the district. As a result, people are bound to use high-value papers paying more money.
The problem is vendors are charging 25% to 50 % commission on the printed prices. But vendors should sell at printed prices as they get the papers below 4% to 5% of original values from the Treasury Office.
Reacting over the problem, District Treasury Officer Sabyasachi Das said, “He has received no complaint yet and will take action soon on those vendors selling beyond a printed price. If necessary the vendors will be told to hang board on sale prices.”