NAGPUR: The legislative council on Friday passed the Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) 2024 bill which among other things will increase stamp duty on affidavits to Rs 500, from the earlier Rs 100.
An ordinance regarding the same was issued on October 14, based on a cabinet decision taken on September 30.
To convert the ordinance into a bill, it was presented before the council on Friday where it was cleared without any recommendations.
Cabinet minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, while presenting the bill in the council, said, "The govt's intention was to bring in uniformity among stamp paper rates."
Leader of opposition Ambadas Danve said, "This will increase the expenses for affidavits. Earlier students could make affidavit for duplicate TC etc for Rs 50 or Rs 100. I think it's unfair to charge them Rs 500 for an affidavit. The best solution the govt can do is to allow self-attestation or at least franking."
Danve said, "We have so many students coming in from rural areas who cannot spend Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 each time they want to give an affidavit."
About the original ordinance, TOI had reported earlier that the MahaYuti government has released an ordinance to amend the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958, proposing the increase in stamp duty on affidavits, agreements and related documents to Rs 500 from the present Rs 100.
According to the revenue department, the amendments to the Maharashtra Stamp Act will help increase the revenue from stamp duty and registration up to almost Rs 2,000 crore.