On one hand, it is a matter of grave concern and on the other it is very much interesting that even in moments of acute crisis one can easily procure stamp papers of lower denomination if one is ready to pay a higher price as demanded by the sellers. It is also clear that, this form of black marketing indicates vested interests behind the shortage of stamp papers.
It may be noted that the main sufferers have been those who generally come to the Deputy Commissioner’s court and the judicial courts for various purposes and require generally non-Judicial stamp papers. A stamp paper of Rs 15 denomination is needed for on affidavit but due to the artificial crisis, people have been compelled to purchase one for Rs 50 unnecessarily. The victim alleged that although such a situation has been continuing since the past two years so far for the availability of stamp papers of lower denomination.
In the meantime, when the sentinel correspondent met several advocates of Nagaon court, they said that they had tried to drag the attention of the Deputy Commissioner on several occasions but he replied that efforts were on to steamline the supply of stamp papers including the lower denomination ones to meet the demands of the people.
The advocates of the Nagaon court further said that this has been a persisting phenomenon that has badly hit the common people, for which they blamed the concerned authorities. They further alleged that black marketing of stamp papers, particularly of lower denominations is going on openly in the court compound itself, right under the nose of the civil and police administration.