Pune: The state government has allowed liquor sale for the sake of revenue collection, but on the other hand its second-highest revenue generator mechanism - the stamp paper sale - has not been permitted. Almost 70 per cent of the stamp paper centres are closed as of today due to which the government and stamp paper vendors have to bear losses every day.
There are about 120 stamp paper vendors in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area. They sell around one lakh stamp papers every day and the government earns revenue of lakhs of rupees every day. The courts and registrar offices have started functioning since Monday but the litigants and advocates are not getting stamp papers. There is a shortage of stamp papers as only 30 per cent of vendors are operating while 70 per cent have to keep their shops shut as they fall in containment zones. Essential services like grocery stores, medical shops are allowed to be open for four hours in containment zones every day. There is a strong demand that on similar lines stamp paper vendors should also be allowed to open their shops in these zones.
Amol Kajale-Patil, Secretary of Conveyancing Practitioners Association said, "Most stamp paper vendors are located in Kasba Peth, Nana Peth, Bhavani Peth areas and in the court premises. Most of these shops are in containment zones. Remaining shops have resumed their services but they are outside core city areas. Advocates and litigants have to travel to the suburbs to purchase stamp papers. Government has allowed the sale of liquor for generating revenues, but they haven't thought of allowing stamp paper sale even when it is causing inconvenience to citizens and loss of revenue to the government."
"We understand that the government has taken several measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. Banning of several activities in the containment zones is one of such measures. However, if stamp vendors are allowed to resume operations, then state government revenues will increase and inconvenience caused to citizens will reduce. Hence the government should allow stamp vendors to operate for a limited time every day in the containment zones," he added.
Stamp availability
