Stamp paper shortage leaves citizens in lurch

Vendors jack up minimum rate from Rs100 to Rs300

RAWALPINDI:

A severe shortage of stamp papers has adversely impacted the Rawalpindi District Kachehri following an unprecedented price hike in stamp paper fees and court fee duties, prompting vendors to either stop selling new papers and halting the preparation of essential legal documents or sell in the black market

The legal documents include affidavits, property contracts, transactions, leases, divorces, consent stamps, affidavits for court submission, purchase and sale of property, and power of attorney.

The crisis has left a large number of citizens struggling to access these papers at the tehsil office in the District Kachehri, with lawyers also protesting over the issue. The halt in stamp paper sales has also hampered new case filings and property sales, inviting vendors, who already stocked the document, to sell at much higher rates.

The Stamp Paper Vendors Union has announced a significant price hike to be effective from July 1, raising the minimum price of stamp papers from Rs100 to Rs300. This increase applies to all legal documents, including affidavits, contracts, transactions, tenancy agreements, utility connections, domicile certificates, and school/college admissions, which will now cost Rs300 each.

Additionally, a written fee of Rs500 and a confirmation fee of Rs500 by Notary Public/Oath Commissioners will be charged, bringing the total preparation cost of one stamp paper to Rs1,500, up from Rs1,300. Furthermore, court fees will increase to Rs100 (previously Rs1) and Rs500 (previously Rs2), while property power of attorney stamp paper fees will rise from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000.

On Friday, many urban consumers flocked to vendors to purchase stamp papers for their daily requirements. However, the vendors were evasive about the actual situation and made excuses, citing "link down" issues to avoid giving the papers. No stamp papers or affidavits were prepared at the old rate at the District Kachehti Tehsil Office on Saturday. As the new rates will come into effect on July 1 (today), vendors kept selling Rs100 stamp papers in Rs500, taking advantage of the desperate public demand.