People queue up at the state treasury. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, April 24: Cases of alleged “artificial scarcity” of stamp papers of various denominations, particularly those below Rs 100, are being reported from across the state.

R. Sharma, an advocate practising at the Ranchi civil court conceded that he failed to find a stamp paper of either Rs 50 or Rs 100. As a result, he had to purchase a stamp paper costing Rs 500.

“The scarcity, if at all, of stamp papers is largely due to vendors adopting ill-practices. They get a commission of 6 per cent on the sale of stamp papers of any denomination and therefore should not indulge in such practices. Besides, there are reports of scarcity of non-judicial stamp papers that over the Rs 20 denomination in some places. But the problem is not so severe that it could lead to black-marketing,” said A. Yousuf, assistant inspector general of registration.

But Yousuf’s claim that there is a standing committee under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner of respective districts to keep a check on any scarcity or black-marketing of stamp papers falls flat as everything is happening under their nose. Treasury officers are also supposed to keep a tab on such things.

Apparently waking up to the situation, the state registration department has now directed Ranchi deputy commissioner Avinash Kumar to form a team and send it to Nasik-based Government of India Press that prints non-judicial stamp papers which are higher than the denomination of Rs 20.

Sources said soon a large quantity of stamp papers of the denominations of Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 are expected to reach the state after which the current paucity would be checked.

Stamp papers of less than Rs 20 denominations (Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 20), that is brought from Hyderabad-based Government of India Press are enough to overcome the “artificial”, claimed Yousuf.

Demand of stamp papers has risen as the minimum valuation of property (both land and flats) has substantially increased in the recent past. Moreover, the volume of sale and purchase of property has also increased manifold after the creation of the state.