Kerala: e-stamp paper to end fraud

Thiruvananthapuram: e-Stamping would be introduced in the state to pre-empt increasing incidents of stamp paper frauds. “Amendments would be made to the Kerala Stamp Act to facilitate the transformation from a manual system to a transparent online registration process,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said at the post-cabinet briefing here on Wednesday.

The e-Stamping facility will do away with the need for non-judicial stamp papers for registration purposes. Instead, details will be entered online through a software customised for the purpose. Money can be paid either online or at the Treasury and the transaction will generate a challan receipt which should then be produced at the sub-registrar office.

The online registration process will not only increase transparency but will also do away with the need for vendors. Vendors argue that the only intention of the state is to steal vendors of their commission.

Once e-stamping comes into force, vendors will find themselves in the position of bar workers after the liquor ban. The chief minister, however, did not elaborate on the rehabilitation measures for vendors. Finance minister K. M. Mani had earlier assured that the vendors would be part of the e-stamping. However, sources in the Registration Department said that steps had not been taken to provide training for stamp vendors.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal have implemented e-stamping. Officials from Kerala have already visited these states to study the system implemention. A software has been developed by the National Informatics Centre for this.

Some of the major advantages of e-stamping are: it can be generated within minutes; it cannot be tampered with; and its authenticity can be easily checked. The Treasury Department is the nodal agency for the project. The stamp paper can be availed online by people who remit the required fee at the Treasury.