The ‘artificial scarcity’ of Government supplied stamp papers has been affecting the people who come for various tasks to the Mangaldai court (Assam) for a long time now. It is alleged that it is all an “artificial scarcity” and a huge racket is behind this. Taking serious note of the problem, the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang, Ashok Kumar Barman, vide an order issued on Friday has suspended the vendors license of seven stamp vendors with immediate effect.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Darrang, Pankaj Chakravarty, told media persons that the DC had been receiving complaints from several organisations that the stamp papers were being sold at an “inflated price” and there was an “artificial scarcity” of stamp papers.
The DC directed Chakravarty to carry out a surprise raid. Accordingly, the ADC assisted by the Treasury Officer Rabin Sarma and Finance and Accounts Officer Gajen Moshahary conducted a raid on Wednesday and found seven stamp vendors involved in “gross irregularities”. Throwing all caution to the wind, the stamp vendors were found selling the stamp papers without maintaining the records properly.
The stamp vendors whose licenses have been suspended are – Jakir Hussain, Bhabananda Sarma, Jadab Saikia, Hazarat Ali, Monowar Hussain, Abidur Rahman and Hasem Ali. The conscious citizens of Mangaldai have hugely appreciated the DC for his said action. Due to the “lackadaisical attitude” of the district administration and the Treasury Department authorities, the stamp vendors were merrily carrying on with their illegal racket to earn quick bucks and this trend is reportedly going on all over Assam. This is the first time in recent history of Darrang district administration when the district head has taken legal action against the stamp vendors.
ADC Chakravarty has said that there will be “proper monitoring of the demand and supply chain of the stamp papers to the vendors through the Treasury to check any dishonest practice in the near future”.