The government has sharply increased stamp paper fees across multiple categories, triggering strong public reaction as citizens complain of a growing financial burden on routine legal and administrative matters.
According to the revised rates, the minimum value of an e-stamp paper has been increased from Rs100 to Rs300. The fee for divorce-related stamp papers has been raised tenfold, from Rs100 to Rs1,000. Similarly, stamp paper fees required for domicile certificates—commonly needed for school admissions and job applications—have been increased from Rs100 to Rs500.
Stamp duties for new electricity, gas and water connections have also seen a steep hike, with the fee raised from Rs100 to Rs1,000.
In the property sector, the fee for e-stamp papers used for property sale agreements has been increased from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000. For non-property agreements, the stamp paper fee has been raised from Rs100 to Rs500.
For agreements involving amounts up to Rs500,000, the e-stamp fee has been increased from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000. Agreements valued between Rs500,000 and Rs1 million will now attract a fee of Rs6,000. For agreements exceeding Rs15 million in value, the stamp paper fee has been increased by Rs20,000.
The fee for power of attorney e-stamp papers has also been revised upward, from Rs1,500 to Rs1,800.
In addition, authorities have made it mandatory for applicants to have a mobile phone SIM registered in their own name in order to obtain e-stamp papers, a move officials say is aimed at improving verification and record-keeping.
The sharp increase in stamp duties has sparked concern among citizens, lawyers and litigants, who argue that the higher fees will make access to basic legal documentation more difficult, particularly for low-income groups.
