Tuesday 16 June 2009

Stamp papers do not have any expiry period under Indian Stamp Act

The Stamp Act, 1899 nowhere prescribes any expiry date for use of a stamp paper. Section 54 merely provides that a person possessing a stamp paper for which he has no immediate use can seek refund of the value  by surrendering such stamp paper to the Collector provided it was purchased within the of six months next preceding the date on which it was so surrendered. The stipulation of the period of six months prescribed in Section 54 is only for the purpose of seeking refund of the value of the unused stamp paper, and not for use of the stamp paper. Section 54 does not require the person who has purchased a stamp paper, to use it within six months. Therefore, there is no restriction for a stamp paper purchased more than six months prior to the proposed date of execution, being used for a document.

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