Maharashtra Govt To Destroy Outdated Stamp Papers Worth Rs 3047 Cr

The Maharashtra government has allowed the disposal of obsolete stamp papers valued at Rs 3,047 crore that have long been out of circulation, as per an announcement by the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) on 3 November. 

This is for the first time with the government choosing to eliminate these obsolete documents. The state notification was released by Revenue Deputy Secretary Satyanarayan Bajaj on Sunday.

In a major move, the state government has given permission for the removal of these old and unused stamps, according to a notification circulated. Many of these ancient stamps have remained unused for a long time. 

As part of the promotion of online franking schemes, the Department of Stamp Registration received approval to fix them, followed by the Department of Finance

The total value of the stamps has been estimated at Rs 3,047 crore, with printing costs of Rs 7.53 crore contributing to this amount. A committee headed by the Additional Secretary of the Mandal and the Treasurer has been constituted to look after this scheme. 

Specific procedures have been established to determine the uniqueness of this stamp issue, and all police officers are directed to deviate from these guidelines.

Given the potential for misuse of these stamps, the government has issued a stern warning against such actions and has threatened to pursue legal action, including criminal charges, against employees involved in illicit activities or the committee's president. 

The Stamp and Registration Department will maintain close oversight of the entire process, ensuring that legal measures are taken against any wrongdoers found guilty of misconduct.