Deputy general manager of Canara Bank Pramod Kumar (centre) announces the launch of the e-stamp system in Ranchi on Saturday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Jan. 4: The state capital got its first counter for e-stamps as part of the government’s ambitious plan to do away with conventional stamp papers in a bid to make property registrations hassle-free and fraud-proof.

Now, citizens can simply deposit money at a designated branch of Canara Bank and obtain computer-generated certificates instantly, without paying any service charges.

Initially, the facility will be available at six branches — Ranchi Main Road, Kanke Road, Ratu Road, Tharpakna, Dhurwa and Doranda — in the state capital.

“People will no more have to make rounds of vendors or stand in queues for hours to procure non-judicial stamps, which are essential for registration of property and land,” said Pramod Kumar, deputy general manager (DGM) of the bank, after launching the e-stamps at the bank’s circle office at Pee Pee Compound this afternoon.

He added that the facility would be extended to the rest of Jharkhand within the next three months.

“Six branches in the capital have been selected on a pilot basis. But, by April next, we will cover the entire state,” the DGM claimed.

Currently, the bank has 96 branches in Jharkhand and is planning to increase the number to 150 in the next couple of months to cover all the 24 districts.

The government launched the e-stamp system — already successful in 14 other states across the country — in Jharkhand on December 21 last year.

The government has appointed Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL) as its central record-keeping agency (CRA) for proper implementation of the project.

SHCIL, in turn, has appointed Canara Bank as the authorised collection centre (ACC) in the state.

“This is a hassle-free system and people will surely like it,” said Kishore Kishlay, the regional head, SHCIL.

Elaborating on the facility, divisional manager of the bank S.R. Singh said the new system would eliminate chances of irregularities.

“This is a secure means to pay stamp duties to the government,” Singh explained.

The e-stamp certificates are tamper-proof. Each payment will generate a unique identification number, which will be encrypted on that particular certificate.

The authenticity of a payment could be verified through an inquiry module on the official website — www.shcilestamp.com, he added.