PIL filed against scarcity of judicial/non-judicial stamps

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 14

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the High Court of Manipur against the prolonged scarcity of non-judicial and judicial stamps (court fee stamps) in the state.

The PIL was filed by advocate Athokpam Indrakumar Singh, former president of All Manipur Bar Association, before the division bench comprising of acting Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh.

The division bench has directed the advocate general (AG) N. Kumarjit, to take necessary steps to ascertain the causes of the non-availability of the stamps maintaining that the scarcity is causing serious inconvenience to the public at large, not only affecting the judicial system but also in other areas of official activities where judicial/non-judicial papers/stamps/documents are required.

While notice was also issued to chief secretary, commissioner (finance), commissioner (revenue), the director of treasury, the case is to be listed in November 17.

Advocate A. Jagjit represented the petitioner while the AG who represented the state was assisted by P. Tamphamani.

The petitioner in his submission pointed out that prior to the filing of the said PIL, repeated requests have been made from various section of the public including BAR associations, public individuals and litigants, however the government remained adamant and failed to supply adequate quantity of the judicial/non-judicial stamps.

It further mentioned that although the smaller denominations of non-judicial stamps are not available with licensed vendors, the same are readily available with the street vendors, pan stores and oath commissioners, who are teeming in an around the Cheirap Court Complex sans control of any authority.

It claimed that the non-judicial stamps of Rs. 10 are sold for unwarranted premiums of Rs. 140, Rs. 20 at Rs. 90 and Rs. 50 at Rs. 140.

Steps have been taken to find out the reason behind the scarcity by inquiring with the concerned authorities of the government but no satisfactory explanation has been given thus far, it lamented.

The petition claiming that scarcity of the legal documents has been lingering since the last four to five years without any reasonable explanation, and this is what compelled him to file the PIL in the interest of the state.