Shanti Bhushan's plea on stamp duty dismissed

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by former Union law minister Shanti Bhushan against the deficiency of stamp duty order passed by ADM Allahabad. The ADM order passed against Bhushan was subsequently confirmed by chief controller (revenue authority) UP in an appeal.
The above order was passed by Justice Sunil Hali on a petition filed by Shanti Bhushan.Bhushan had challenged both the orders on various grounds, particularly saying that there was no deficiency of stamp as was alleged in the impugned order. He said the entire stamp liability was paid because he was the tenant of bungalow, which he had bought later. Therefore, being a tenant, his liability was limited and he had paid the stamp duty accordingly, Bhushan claimed.
The petition was opposed by state government saying that there was compromise decree and as per the decree, he had become owner of the bungalow, therefore his liability to pay stamp duties was like owner and not a tenant. The court dismissed Bhushan's plea but exempted the penalty imposed on him.