Himachal to adopt e-stamp model completely by next year, the state will save 50 Cr per annum

The authorized stamp vendors will have one year period to switch over completely to se⁶lling e-stamp papers in Himachal Pradesh. This will reduce an annual expenditure of Rs. 30-50 crore on the State exchequer which is being presently spent on the printing of physical stamp papers. However, for the time being, the Government has decided to continue with the dual system of stamps, i.e. Physical and e-stamp paper from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024, and thereafter physical stamp papers will be discontinued completely.

Furthermore, the State Government has decided to discontinue the printing of physical stamp papers with immediate effect and decided to collect the stamp duty on e-mode through the e-stamping system. The Government will authorize the stamp vendors as authorized collection centers for e-stamp papers.

For the benefit of the consumers, e-stamps can be generated through the portal of Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), which serves as the Central Record Keeping Agency. Stamp vendors will be authorized to generate e-stamps through the portal at a nominal commission. At present, stamp vendors are allowed to sell physical stamp papers with an upper ceiling of Rs. 20,000 per day whereas this limit will be 2 lakh rupees per day with fully adopting the e-stamping system, benefitting the vendors as well.

“Although the e-stamping system was introduced in Himachal Pradesh in the year 2011, the State Government has now decided entirely to switch to e-mode”, stated Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The cost of printing stamp papers is Rs. 20, Rs. 22, and Rs. 23 per stamp paper for denominations up to Rs. 500, Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000, and Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000 respectively. E-stamping is a win-win situation for both the State Government and the common people.

The State Government has also studied the e-stamping model in three tehsils in Rural and Urban areas of Punjab, where it has improved the ease of doing business and has generated revenue with minimizing the chance of fraud or re-use. Further, there is no provision to generate duplicate e-stamp certificates, if the original one is misplaced. Each stamp paper has a unique identification number that can’t be tampered with.  Data is stored safely with the SHCIL and verification of genuineness can be done using an inquiry model. 

“The State Government was promoting technology in various departments to provide improved services at the doorsteps and facilitate people of the State. Roping in the technology will also bring transparency in the functioning of the government departments” said Sh. Sukhu.