Punjab rolled out e-stamp for property transactions

Mohali, January 20
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia launched the e-stamp service today.

The step would make property transactions convenient, besides ending public harassment and corruption, Badal said.

“The facility will obviate the need to stand in long queues for procuring stamp papers, besides ending the middleman culture. Now onwards, the common man will be able to deposit the stamp fee through wire transfers, drafts or cheques,” Badal said. It would also bring efficiency and transparency in the working of the Revenue Department, he added.

“People will be able to deposit stamp fee at thousands of branches of various banks near their places of work or residence. They people will now be able to deposit the exact fee instead of being forced to buy stamp papers of more denomination than needed, due to lack of availability and creation of artificial scarcity,” said Bikram Singh Majithia.

The state government’s next target would be to launch e-registration service, Badal said. “The state will witness the launch of e-registration facility in the next six months. It will complement the e-stamping measure. In fact, my aim is to make all government services online by July 2015,” Badal said.

“Following the launch of these two services, the people will not need to visit any department. They will be able to get their works done at nearby Sewa Kendras, to be set up in every ward soon. These centres will provide various services in a stipulated time frame and remove corruption automatically,” Badal said.

Adviser to Chief Minister Mahesinder Singh Grewal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma and Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu were also present on the occasion.

Special features

• Each e-stamp will have a unique ID that can be verified online
• It will have safety features such as ultraviolet verification, microfilm, thermal fixtures and encrypted 2-D bar code
• In case an e-stamp gets misplaced, one can apply for a duplicate e-stamp