Shortage of revenue stamps in Aurangabad

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Jan 8 (UNI) There is a shortage of revenue stamps commonly used on receipts in transactions above Rs 5,000 here since the last few months and the main reason for the dearth is the non-payment of commission by the State government to the postal department.

Assistant Director Postal Services (Aurangabad) A Prabhakar Rao told UNI, ''As a policy matter, we were selling the revenue stamps through post offices. But due to non-receipt of commission from the State government since several months, we have stopped selling revenue stamps, following instructions from the office of the Post Master General (PMG).'' However, treasury official Mr J B Chavan at the district collectorate held the postal department responsible for the ongoing shortage of revenue stamps.

Chavan said the district required 10 lakh revenue stamps per month while the stock available with the treasury was around 50 lakh stamps as on date.

He said as per talks with higher authorities at the state level, they had requested the postal department to continue selling revenue stamps till any solution was found.

However, the postal department has stuck to its stand and have not come forward to lift the stock, he alleged.

In the absence of the revenue stamps in the district, traders, business establishements, company offices, public and individuals have been finding it difficult and are looking forward to an alternative arrangement at the earlier for the same.

UNI