Mumbai: Starting April 1, those wanting a stamp paper will have to go in person to buy it and can’t buy through a third party. The new order also requires a person to be physically present to buy a stamp from a vendor. A circular to this effect was released on February 1. Stamp papervendors have launched a protest against the decision by going on strike with immediate effect.
Until now, one could buy stamp paper for anyone by producing valid identification before the vendors. As per this new rule, common citizens, senior citizens, students, ministers, industrialists and all celebrities will have to go and get stamps in person.
Licence holder has nothing to do with selling stamp paper online
Ashok R Kadam, president of the Stamp Dealers’ Union, said the rules made under the Feb 21 circular don’t come within the purview of the Stamp Act and there’s no rule anywhere that prohibits selling of stamps to private individuals through representatives.
Kadam further said that the licence holder has nothing to do with selling stamp paper online, and the government has the power to take full action against those who are doing it privately. “There is a discrepancy in the order; while the government has taken a clear stand during a public interest litigation that allows sending stamp paper to an online institution, stamplicensees are not following the practice,” he said.
RTI activist Anil Galgali has filed a complaint with the government wherein he has given detailed information that since 1982, since the licence was issued, the same procedure was being followed. However, the authorities have deliberately issued orders that have put licence holders in Mumbai in trouble and also the citizens, making it mandatory for them to go physically to buy stamps.
In one of the affidavits filed by the state government in a case in the Bombay High Court, it was clearly stated that under the provisions of the present rule a person or institution purchasing stamps can do so through another person. Now there is a discrepancy in the order. Galgali said that points presented in the said order are inconsistent about the work of the licence holder and that the order has been presented in a wrong manner.
