Revenue stamps are out of stock

Revenue stamps are out of stock’. That signboard has been adorning the counters of all post offices, including the head post office, in Karimnagar town for past month and a half. The paucity of revenue stamps is creating problems for people wishing to carry out financial transactions of over 5,000.It is over one and half month, the revenue stamps are not available in any post office in the town in general and district in particular.

However, the stamps are available with local vendors, stationery shops and even paan shops in various parts of the town. The catch? The traders are selling 1 stamps each for 10 by hoarding the stocks.Given this scenario, citizens are unhappy with the State government for not being able to supply the 1 stamps. Those waiting to file their income tax return for financial year 2017-18 by March 31 are struggling to secure revenue stamps.

M. Venkat Reddy, a resident, says, “I was in dire need of 1 revenue stamps for attaching them with rent receipts and submit as proof towards investment declaration for IT returns. I was forced to purchase 12 stamps by paying 10 for each in the black market.”Ilaiah, a retired lecturer, also had to pay 10 times the cost of a revenue stamp.

‘Inefficiency of govt.’

Lok Satta Udyama Samstha district president N. Srinivas alleged that the inefficiency of the State government had led to the revenue stamp crisis.“It is a shame that the ?1 stamps are being sold in the black market at exorbitant rates,” he said.A senior official of the postal department at the head post office said they have placed the indent with the state registration and stamps department and paid the necessary amount.“But, the stamps department is lethargic in printing the necessary revenue stamps,” he said, adding that the revenue stamps would be available by this weekend.