Gujarat To Curb E-Stamp Fraud With New Policy

In Gujarat, this led to the introduction of franking in banks, which initially proved successful. However, after instances of fraud surfaced, the state government discontinued franking and introduced the e-stamp system.

Under this system, every notary was made an e-stamp vendor, authorised to generate e-stamps. However, due to low commission rates, vendors showed little interest in selling e-stamps. Consequently, citizens often had to pay high illegal commissions or struggle to find an e-stamp vendor.

The situation worsened when the Stamp Duty Superintendent's office discovered fraudulent activity in e-stamp papers. Two cases were reported where a Rs 300 e-stamp was manipulated to reflect a value of Rs 3 lakh, leading to police complaints. In response, the Stamp Duty Department has introduced two key reforms in its new policy.

Key Changes In New E-Stamp Policy:

Online E-Stamp Purchase: Citizens can now buy e-stamps directly via the 'GARVI' portal, reducing reliance on vendors.

Expansion of Vendors: The number of authorised vendors, currently 4,894, will increase based on population and demand, ensuring fair pricing and better accessibility.

At present, limited vendors have led to malpractice, with some vendors charging Rs 350 for a Rs 300 e-stamp due to the low commission rate of 15 paise per Rs 100.

The new policy aims to resolve this issue by ensuring fair pricing and wider accessibility. Stamp Duty Superintendent Jenu Devan, who oversees the entire stamp sales system in Gujarat, was unavailable for comment.