Maharashtra Revenue Department Waives Stamp Duty On Certificates, Saving Students Thousands

The Maharashtra state revenue department has waived the Rs 500 stamp duty for obtaining various certificates such as domicile, nationality, income, and caste verification, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the move will greatly benefit students passing their board exams. According to a statement from the minister's office, the waiver will provide significant savings for students seeking certificates for admission to higher studies.

Students passing their Class X and XII exams will no longer have to spend around Rs 3,000 on obtaining these certificates. Under the previous system, applicants had to submit affidavits on Rs 500 stamp paper for each certificate, including income, domicile, non-creamy layer, and caste verification.

The new directive removes this requirement, allowing students and other applicants to submit self-attested affidavits on plain paper. These affidavits can be submitted at the tehsil offices when applying for necessary certificates. Revenue authorities have been directed to implement this change immediately across the state.

Although the waiver decision was initially made in 2004, it had not been uniformly enforced by all collectors and tehsil officers. An official from the revenue department explained that the failure to implement the order led to the issuance of fresh directions. The authorities have now been instructed to ensure strict adherence to the new guidelines to prevent any delays or confusion.

This decision is expected to ease the financial burden on students and make the process of acquiring necessary certificates for further education quicker and more efficient. The move will have a positive impact on many students across the state, especially those pursuing higher studies.