Stamp sellers in Mumbai are protesting against the unjust and illegal office orders of the Additional Controller of Stamps, Mumbai, limited to Mumbai. The new order requiring a person to be physically present to get a stamp paper is illegal and now a person has to go to a stamp vendor to get a stamp.RTI activist Anil Galgali has filed a complaint with the government. In case of agitation, it will be impossible to get stamps in Mumbai.
Anil Galgali in a written statement sent to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Revenue Minister has given detailed information that since the year 1982, since the license was issued, the same procedure was being followed in the office as per the instructions, and the same procedure is being followed even today. The signature or thumb of the stamp dealer shall be taken by the stamp dealer as per the rules laid down in Clause 8. But the authorities have deliberately issued such orders which have put the license holders in Mumbai in trouble and also the citizens going to get stamps. Due to this new order tomorrow common citizens, senior citizens, students, minister or any other big person will have to go and get stamp in person.
Ashok R Kadam, President, Stamp Dealers’ Union, Mumbai, says that the rules made in the circular dated February 21, 2023 are not within the purview of the Stamp Act. Also, there is no condition (rule) anywhere in the circular not to sell stamps to private individuals through representatives. Kadam further said that the license holder has nothing to do with selling 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 office order while the state government has taken a clear stand regarding the Public Interest Litigation 5/2022 that sending the stamp paper to the online institution for home delivery, no such practice is being done by the stamp licensee.
In the affidavit filed by the State Government in one of the case in Mumbai High Court, it was clearly stated that under the provisions of the present rule a person or institution purchasing stamps can purchase its stamps through another. Now there is a discrepancy in the office order. Galgali says that the things that have been presented in the said office order are inconsistencies about the work of the license holder and this office order has been presented in a wrong manner.
