Plan to make high-value affidavits tamper-proof,curb property related frauds

The Punjab government is now planning to make high-value affidavits tamper-proof in the state using bar codes,holograms and special paper with security features. The move is mainly directed at curbing frauds in property deals. Sources said the government earns revenue of Rs 2,300 crore per year from stamp duty. Now it is planning that affidavits of denomination greater than Rs 50,000 — normally used in property related transactions — should be made tamper-proof and for this it will ask State Bank of India to place holograms on affidavits. All affidavits sold in the state will also be bar-coded so that the sub-registrar can check the contents of an affidavit online and also the government can track their sale.

“Besides,no cheating can take place with anyone,as at times people make fake affidavits and sell off properties of others,” said an officer.

Besides adding holograms and bar codes,the government also plans to use special paper with security features,such as water mark,to make forgery very difficult,said sources.

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An officer said,“SBI will be told that the stamp receipt it issues to the buyer on receiving stamp duty should be computerised and in proper format so that it can be properly pasted by the sub-registrar at the time of registration.”

“Also,this system of paying stamp duty money to the nearest branch of SBI should be replicated in all the 156 tehsils across the state in the next six months. At present, this system exists only in 71 tehsils.”

Affidavits of less then Rs 50,000 denomination will be available with stamp vendors as usual.