NAKODAR
The Punjab government has failed to break the deadlock between its revenue department and postal authorities over the sale of revenue stamps of the denomination of Re 1 through the post office.
Post offices across Punjab stopped selling revenue stamps in, February 2005, demanding that their commission be hiked from 3 percent to 6 percent. However, the Revenue Department refused to accept the demand and wrote to the Centre to intervene, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, the state government is selling revenue stamps through its treasury offices at the sub-divisional level. It has also authorized stamp vendors to sell revenue stamps.
However the residents of far-flung and remote villages complain that they are forced to spend more money and time to buy these stamps.
Chief Minster Bhagwant Singh Mann directed financial commissioner revenue to solve this problem last year but to no avail.
The stamp vendors, too, are reluctant to sell these stamps as they receive a small commission.
Taking advantage of the continuing stalemate, some people are selling these stamps on the black market.
Chief Minster Bhagwant Singh Mann directed financial commissioner revenue to solve this problem last year but to no avail.