Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 22: If everything goes on as planned, the new 'e-stamping' system being implemented by the state government will come into force within two months. The government is working to ensure that the post offices and banks in the state will function as e-stamping centres from July 1 this year.

The rules formulated to this affect, will soon be approved by the cabinet, after which the nod of the legislature would be obtained for the same. The new system, it is hoped, will end the shortage of document sheets presently felt and do away with the long queues in front of a few banks which are presently involved with the issuance of document sheets.

The need for a proper fool-proof system of issuing stamp papers was felt, after the government lost huge amounts of money due to the stamp paper scam initiated by its kingpin, Telgi. The Delhi government has already implemented the system successfully through the banks. However, Karnataka will be the first state in the country to involve even the post offices in the implementation of this system.

The union government-owned Stock Holding Corporation of India will be in charge of implementing the scheme, for which it will get 0.615% as commission. Negotiation about the commission payable by the Corporation to the banks and post offices is on. However, in the initial stages, post offices located in small places might not be able to implement the system.

The scheme will be implemented initially at the taluk centres, informed Stamps and Registration department commissioner Niranjan.  He clarified that the bar code on the papers one obtains through the banks or post offices gets locked once it is registered in the office of the sub-registrar. Hence, duplicate stamp papers can not be created, and if any one tries to indulge in foul play, they will be getting caught easily, he added.

At the same time, the officials of the stamps and registration department will continue to retain the authority to check the sale of stamp papers, remittance of cost thereof to the treasury etc.